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FIFTY 
LUSTRATIONS 



PRICE, 50 CENTS 



FISHES AND FISHING 



COMPLETE 

FISHING and CAMPING MANUAL 



FIFTY ILLUSTRATIONS 

Description of Fish Found in Western Waters 



BAIT AND FLY CASTING 

Woodcraft 

Game and Fish Laws 

Secrets of Catching Fish 

Camp Cooking and Camp Making 

1,000 POINTS WORTH KNOWING 



BY 

L. E. CAVALIER 

H 



| LIBRARY" Of CONGRESS 
| Two Copies Received 

JUN M wor 

\ * Copyright Entry 
GLASS Cc XXe., No. 

/ 7 f 3&3 

COPY B. 



^ A 



&* 



Copyright 1907, by L. E. Cavaliei 



PREFACE. 

This book is published as an aid to anglers and sportsmen, 
those seeking recreation in the woods and on the lakes of 
Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the west generally, and treats 
of the fishes and camp life and recreation in a general way, 
omitting the small details which everyone should know who 
knows enough to take an outing. 

The tendency for summer vacations is growing greater each 
year as both employer and employe realize the benefits of 
an annual outing. 

While fishing is by no means' the sole object of a visit 
to the woods it furnishes a basis — it forces the recreation 
and out-door action that might not be had in any other way; 
hence this book treats largely of •fishes" and fishing, the pre- 
eminent recreation of the northwest for men, women and 
children, for it takes one to the woods and streams where 
nature's attractions will do the work of restoring her tired 
children to vigor and health. 

The book tells of fishes in such a way as to familiarize 
all readers with the subject and instruct, the young as well 
as the old, in the art of angling, boating, camping and wood- 
craft, as applied to the northwest. 

Not many persons in the Northwest know the names or 
habits of the fishes found in the lakes and streams of Minne- 
sota, Wisconsin and other western states. Not a single per- 
son, not even the old experienced fisherman, can tell the name 
of every fish he catches. 

This book contains the most valuable information on this 
subject ever printed. It shows accurate pictures and gives 
brief descriptions of the principal fishes embraced in the 
western states, though not all of them; and more, it tells how 
to catch these fish, the kind of bait to use and how to prepare 
these fish. Experience gathered from scores of the most suc- 
cessful and investigating anglers of the present generation. 
It is told plainly, without touching on the science of the sub- 
ject. 

In addition this book contains practical information 
concerning camping, camp cooking, boating and boat building, 
wood craft, etc.; tells the amateur what to take on an outing 
and what not to take and contains a synopsis of the game 
and fish laws of all western states. 



KNOWN BY MANY NAMES. 

The attention of readers of this book is called to the fact 
that nearly all fishes are known by a variety of names, which 
have been applied locally; for instance, the common sand pike 
found in the Mississippi river is also known as sand perch, 
jack salmon, glass eye, etc. The common names here ap- 
plied to fish are those adopted by the United States Fish Com- 
mission. Every resource at the command of the author has 
been drawn upon to make the description of the fishes herein, 
accurate so far as investigation has progressed. When it is 
known that some five thousand new varieties of fish are being 
discovered every year by the fish commission's agents, and 
that many of these are annually found in the streams of the 
middle west, it is easy to comprehend how many of the small 
fish of the sucker family cannot be distinctly and accurately 
described in a small volume. It is estimated that there are 
twenty-five varieties of suckers in the lakes and streams of 
Minnesota and Wisconsin. Many of these never grow to more 
than three inches in length. They are all classified as min- 
nows — sbiners, chubs, etc. 



FISHES AND FISHING 



WHIPPING TROUT STREAMS. 

Any angler for trout, if he has had experience, must know 
that while it is great sport it is also hard work. The hills to 
climb, underbrush to crawl through, dead trees and marshes 
to cross, streams to ford, and long walks, must be part of the 
work in trout fishing. The streams are wild, in places the 
current is shallow and swift, while in others are found silent 
pools of varying depths. Then there are the clouds of flies, 
gnats and mosquitoes which are alone sometimes enough to 
dampen the enthusiasm of the angler and force him into 
declaring that he will never again go trout fishing. But 
he goes again and again, for it is the successful accomplish- 
ment of the undertaking that lures him on, and soon the dif- 
ficulties in the way become matters of course. However, there- 
are some streams more easy of access than others, but the old 
angler looks upon these as the special preserves of women 
trouters, and will look for something more promising and 
more to his liking. 

Every fly fisherman knows how necessary it is to be out 
of sight of the trout, especially on bright days. It is on that 
account a good plan to 'wade up stream, making casts well 
in advance, so that no disturbance of the water may convey 
intelligence of approaching danger. The flies should be very 
small, and three of them may be used at once, in order to 
offer some variety. 

But the eye of the trout is a quickly adjusted microscope, 
and is speedy in detecting any fault in the make-up of the 
fly, or in the manner of its alighting upon the surface. Only 
experience will teach the fisherman the turn of the tip of the 
rod, which checks the fall of the leader, and allows the flies 
to come naturally to the stream. 

There is a fly well known to anglers, which has a very 
tiny bit of woodcock's feather tied in, along with a black and 
a yellow hackle. The insignificant brown bit looks as though 
it might be successfully imitated by a tip from a partridge 
or a brown Leghorn hen, but all practical men who have tried 
it know that nothing but the real woodcock plume will an- 
swer for that fly. 



FISHES AND FISHING 



HOW TO ANGLE FOR TROUT. 

This is a subject on which anglers differ as to detail and 
tackle. Brook trout are very shy of unusual noises and the 
man with rod and reel must keep out of sight and make 
as little noise as .possible. 

Besides knowing the signs of likely places, and knowing 
how to cast the line, the tackle is the greatest consideration 
in trouting. The rod should be nine to twelve feet in length, 
depending upon the locality to be fished. Expert fly and bait 
casters prefer the shorter rod, for it is much easier to take 
care of when traveling through the underbrush. The long 
rod is preferred by many, but the lightest of these soon tire 
the wrist. They are used in "spotting," more than in casting. 
A line about the length of the rod is swung out to the desired 
pool. With the shorter and lighter rod one may cast con- 
siderably farther than with the long rod, and the latter seems 
more desirable when the fly is used, more natural results 
following such casts, while the use of the reel is more sat- 
isfactory. Next to the rod, the line must have careful con- 
sideration, and here again anglers are at odds. A fine silk 
braided line is preferable to the twisted line for two reasons, 
at least. It will run off the reel smoother and is less likely 
to kink where it is twisted by a swift current, and consequent- 
ly will reel in better. A twisted horse hair line containing 
nine hairs is a fine line but very expensive. 

A free running reel is also necessary, and these may be 
of the kind suited to the owner's taste and pocket book. The 
line and, reel, however, should be in "sympathy." Some lines 
will not work at all satisfactory with some reels, though they 
would do perfect work with others. Experiment on this sub- 
ject will repay the angler — and he only can say when he has 
found the two that are in harmony. 

Next, the bait is to be decided upon. Live bait and ar- 
tificial bait are in use and of varieties there are many. The 
chub minnow, angle worm, white grub worms, the flesh ot 
deer, rabbit or any wild fowl, shrimp and crawfish, or grass- 
hopper, will bring a strike at certain seasons of the year. 
At the opening of the season in the western states, angle 
worms are most available, or the little white worms found 
under the moss on rocks lying below the surface of the water. 
Minnows are also to be had wherever trout are found. In 
fact, in many streams abounding in trout "chubs" of good 



FISHES AND FISHING 



size will take the bait as often as the speckled game. The 
smaller chubs make good bait for large trout. 

A month later, unless the season is very forward, the ar- 
tificial fly will give the angler greater sport than live bait 
and cause him less inconvenience. Of artificial flies there are 
hundreds of varieties made of as many different materials, 
but all made in imitation of natural flies and for localities in 
which these flies abound, from the size of a housefly to a but- 
terfly. One should have a variety of these. If the trout do 
not rise to one, try another. A fly that trout may take in 
the morning, it will sometimes not touch at noon or evening. 
A little brown sandfly is quite a catch at certain times, while 
the white miller or black moth gives good results at other 
times. It has been said by many trout anglers that best re- 
sults come from using a bright colored fly on a cloudy day 
and a dull colored fiy on a bright day. Yet, the reverse has 
proven equally successful. 

Some anglers use a single fly or hook, while others use the 
tandem — two or three— attached about twelve inches apart, 
though the distance separating the hooks is a matter of opinion 
and conditions under which the angling is done. It is undoubt- 
edly true that mere trout will be taken with the tandem hook 
than with the single hook. Often a trout is taken on each 
hook, where trout are very numerous. 

A landing net and creel are essential adjuncts to the 
trouting equipment, and if streams are to be waded, which 
is generally the case, wading boots are necessary. 

Now a few words on angling, just to help the amateur. 
After the equipment is secured the beginner should consult 
some experienced angler and ask all the questions he can 
think of. That done, he can go ahead. Fish down stream 
generally, but there are times and conditions under which 
one may win greater success by casting up stream, though 
such instances are rare. Before starting, practice casting. 
This may be done anywhere that space may be found. Prac- 
tice makes perfect and any one who is trouting cannot have 
too much experience. It is difficult work, but very essential 
to success. After this learn all about the stream you in- 
tend to whip — the holes, pools, etc., and go ahead. Experience 
will do the rest. 



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BROOK TROUT 

The Brook trout of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan 
range from light gray in color to greenish black, depending 
on the waters and the food on which they live. It is undoubt- 
edly the various shading of colors that has caused many 
anglers to call some of them "Mountain trout." Indeed they 
are found in swift running streams in these states identical in 
every marking with those found in the Mountain streams of 
the west. They are marked with red and gold spots, the spots 
on the lighter color showing more prominent than on the 
darker fish. They range in weight from one-quarter of a 
pound to three and a half or four pounds, though the average 
weight is not above half a pound. 

The brook trout or speckled trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) 
is one of the most beautiful, active, and widely distributed of 
the American trouts. It prefers clear, cold, rapid streams, and 
belongs to that group of trout known as charrs, characterized 
by the presence of round crimson spots on the sides of the 
body. Other members of this class are the saibling or charr 
(Salvelinus alpinus) of Europe and Greenland; the Sunapee 
trout (S. alpinus aureolus), found in parts of New Hampshire 
and Maine; the blueback trout (S. oquassa) of the Rangeley 
.Lakes in Maine, and the Dolly Varden trout, red-spotted trout, 
or bull trout (S. malma) of the Pacific States and Alaska. The 
lake trout also belongs in this group. 

The general form of the brook trout's body varies consid- 
erably, sometimes being elongated and sometimes rather short, 
but the usual depth is about one-fourth or one-fifth of the 
length. The head is large and blunt, and is contained 4% 
times in the body length. The large terminal mouth is pro- 
vided with teeth on the jaws, tongue, and palate bones, and 
also with a small patch on the vomer. The eye is placed 
high in the head; its diameter is about one-sixth of the length 
of head. The gill-rakers on the first arch number about 17, 
of which 11 are on the lower arm. The scales are very small 
and numerous; about 230 are in the lengthwise series, and 
35 above and 35 below the lateral line. The dorsal and anal 
rays are 10 and' 9, respectively. The tail is square or slightly 
lunate in the adult, forked in the young. 

There is considerable variation in the color of the brook 
trout, dependent on local conditions, sex, and age. The head, 
back, and sides of the body, dorsal and caudal fins are of a 
grayish or greenish color; the back, head, dorsal, and base 



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FISHES AND FISHING 



of caudal are mottled with dark green or black. In the male 
there is a reddish band along side of belly. Along the middle 
of the side there are numerous round light-red spots surround- 
ed by whitish or light-brownish circular areas. The lower 
fins are dusky, with a pale or cream-color anterior border 
bounded by a black streak; remainder of fin often red in 
breeding males. 

The brook trout may be distinguished from the other 
charrs by the dark-brown or black marblings on the back and 
the general absence of spots on the back. 




THE GRAYLING. (Thymallus ontariensis.) 

The Michigan Grayling (Thymallus ontariensis) is natural- 
ly found only in certain streams in Michigan, although the 
type specimen was said to have come from Lake Ontario. 
It is one of the most attractive and game of fresh-water fishes, 
but is rapidly approaching extinction, owing to excessive fish- 
ing and the pollution of streams, which have not been counter- 
acted by artificial propagation. The Montana Grayling (Thy- 
mallus ontariensis montanus) inhabits a limited area in the 
head-waters of the Missouri River and is very abundant in 
some streams. 

Although the cultivation of the grayling was begun as 
early as 1874, it was never regularly or extensively conducted. 
Spawning in Michigan occurs in April, and the eggs are normal- 
ly laid in gravel beds in clear, cold streams. The number 
of eggs taken from a single fish varies from 3,000 to 4,000. 
The same methods of culture pursued with the brook trout 
are applicable to the grayling. In water having a temperature 
of 50 to 60 degrees F., the incubation is 14 to 20 days. 



FISHES AND PISHING 



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RAINBOW TROUT. 

The Rainbow trout of Minnesota, and Wisconsin is one of 
the most beautiful fishes found in western waters. Its body 
is striped with beautiful tints of rainbow colors the entire 
length, while the spots found on the "speckled" trout show 
much less color on the rainbow. Wherever these fish are 
found they range in weight similar to those of the "speckled" 
trout. 

The body of the rainbow trout is comparatively short and 
deep, and is more elongate in males than in females. The 
average depth is contained about three and four-fifths times 
in the body length. The short head, which is obtusely ridged 
above, is about one-fourth the total length. The mouth is 
smaller than in species of Sal mo, the maxillary reaching scarcely 
beyond the eye, which is rather large, and is contained five 
times in the side of the head. The caudal fin is distinctly but 
not strongly forked. On the vomer are two irregular series 
of teeth. The dorsal rays number 11 and the anal 10. In the 
typical species there are about 135 scales in the lateral series, 
with 20 rows above and 20 below the lateral line; in the sev- 
eral subspecies the number of rows of scales along the side 
is from 120 to 180. The color is variable, depending on sex, 
age, and character of water. Typical adult fish are bluish 
above, silvery on the sides, profusely and irregularly dark- 
spotted on the back and sides, the spots extending to the 
vertical fins, with a red lateral band and blotches and a nearly 
plain belly. 

The rainbow trout is not indigenous to eastern waters, its 
original habitat being the Pacific Coast of the United States. 
It is especially abundant in the mountain streams of California. 
A few specimens, however, have been taken in salt water, and 
it is not unlikely that some find their way through the rivers 
into the sea. 

This fish is a native of the Great Lakes, but during the 
past decade attempts have been made to transplant the fry in 
the smaller lakes of Minnesota and Wisconsin, with some 
degree of success where the water is cool and deep. 

This handsome species (Cristivomer namaycush), the lar- 
gest of the trout, is classed with the charrs. It has an elon- 
gated body, the length being about 4% times the depth. The 
head is large, flat above, and about as long as the body is 
deep. The mouth is large; the maxillary bone extends be- 
yond the eye and is half the length of the head ; the jaws have 



FISHES AND FISHING 13 

strong teeth. A peculiarity of the vomerine bone distinguishes 
this fish from the genus Salvelinus; it has a crest provider! 
with teeth extending backward from the shaft of the bone. 
On the hyoid bone the teeth are in a cardiform band. The 
eye, placed near the top of the head, is contained about 4% 
times in length of head. The caudal fin is well forked. Both 
the dorsal and anal fins contain 9 to 11 rays. In the straight 
lateral line there are about 200 scales. Branchiostegals 11 or 
12. 

The coloration is quite variable in fish from different lo- 
calities. The general color is usually dark gray. The body, 
head, and fins are covered with small discrete rounded spots, 
usually of a pale color, but often tinged with reddish. On the 
back and top of head there are fine vermiculations, as in the 
brook trout. Examples from some lakes of Maine and eastern 
Canada are nearly black, and Alaskan examples are often 
very dark; others are quite pale. 

That variety of the lake trout known as the siscowet 
(Cristivomer namaycush siscowet), found only in deep water 
in Lake Superior, is shorter and paler than the typical fish 
and has weaker teeth and a shorter head; it is, however, chief- 
ly characterized by an excessive fatness, which greatly reduces 
its food value. 



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20 FISHES AND FISHING 

VON BEHR TROUT— German Brown. 

(Salmo fario.) 

This trout grows to large size and is found in many of 
the streams of Wisconsin. Specimens have been taken, in 
Wisconsin, weighing six pounds, though the average weight is 
three-quarters of a pound. Von Behr trout have been caught 
weighing twenty pounds in the waters of California. 

LOCH LEVEN TROUT. 

(Salmo trutta levenensis.) 

This fish is very similar to the Von Behr or German 
brown trout. Fry has been planted in many of the western 
streams. This is claimed to be the most gamey of all trout. 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN TROUT— or Black Spotted. 

(Salmo mykiss.) 

This trout is similar to the brook trout of Minnesota and 
Wisconsin except that its spots are mainly above the middle 
of the body and wholly cover the tail and dorsal fin. 

YELLOWSTONE TROUT. 

(Salmo mykiss lewisi.) 

Yellowstone trout are found in the tributaries of the Yel- 
lowstone River and in many of the streams and lakes of the 
Yellowstone National Park. It is sometimes known as the 
"Cut Throat" trout and is a vicious fighter. Its spots are 
smaller and more numerous than the Wisconsin brook trout, 
and is much darker. 

STEELHEAD TROUT. 

(Salmo gairdneri.) 

A few of these trout have been planted in the brooks of 
Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Steelhead is black on the 
back shading to a dull gray on the sides, while the head is of 
clear steel gray resembling the polished metal. They are 
found in Montana and along the Pacific Coast as far North as 
Alaska. The fish is large and black spotted. It is also known 
as "hardhead" and Gairdner's trout. It is also a Russian fislf 
where it is known as Soomga. In some of the Eastern mark- 
ets it is sold as Kennebec salmon. It sometimes reaches a 
weight of thirty pounds. 



FISHES AND FISHING 



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22 FISHES AND FISHING 



THE BASSES. 

The species treated of in this chapter are those members 
of the Centrarchidae (or fresh-water sunfishes) which have 
come under the scope of fish-culture, namely, the large-mouth 
black bass (Micropterus salmoides), the small-mouth black 
bass (Micropterus dolomieu), the rock bass(Ambloplites ru- 
pestris), the crappie (Pomoxis annularis), and the calico bass 
(Pomoxis sparoides). Whatever is said of the rock bass will 
apply equally to other sunfishes, which might be here consider- 
ed but which have not been artificially reared. 

The principal physical characteristics of these fishes are 
indicated in the following key, which serves to distinguish the 
two species of black bass and the two species of crappie from 
each other as well as from less closely related species. 

Large-mouth black bass: Body comparatively long, the 
depth about one-third the length; back little elevated; head 
large, 3 to 3^ in body; eye 5 to 6 in head; mouth very large, 
the maxillary in adults extending beyond eye, smaller in young. 
Ten rows of scales on the cheeks; body scales large, about 68 
in the lateral line, and 7 above and 16 below the line. Dorsal 
fin low, deeply notched, larger than anal, with 10 spines and 
12 or 13 soft rays; anal with 3 spines and 10 or 11 rays. Col- 
or above dark-green, sides greenish-silvery, belly white; young 
with a blackish band along sides from opercle to tail, the 
band breaking up and growing paler with age; caudal fin pale 
at base, white on edge and black between; older specimens 
almost uniformly dull greenish; three dark oblique stripes 
across opercle and cheek; dark blotch on opercle. 

Small-mouth black bass: Similar in form to large-mouth 
bass. Mouth smaller, the maxillary terminating in front of 
posterior edge of eye, except in very old specimens. About 17 
rows of small scales on the cheeks; body scales small, 11-74-17. 
Dorsal fin less deeply notched than in other species, with 10 
spines and 13 to 15 rays; anal with 3 spines and 12 or 13 rays, 
(general color dull golden-green, belly white; young with dark 
spots along sides tending to form irregular vertical bars, but. 
never a lateral band; caudal fin yeHowish at base, white at 
tip, with dark intervening area; dorsal with bronze spots and 
dusky edge; three radiating bronze stripes extending back- 
ward from eye; dusky spot on point, of opercle. 

Crappie: Body short, greatly compressed, back much ele- 
vated; depth 2% in length; eye large, one-fourth length of 



FISHES AND FISHING 



head; head long, 3 in length; profile with double curve; mouth 
large, snout projecting. Scales on cheeks in 4 or 5 rows; 
scales in lateral line 36 to 48. Dorsal fin smaller than anal, 
with 6 spines and 15 rays, the spinous part the shorter; anal 
with 6 spines and 18 rays; dorsal and anal fins very high. 
Color silvery white or olive, with mottlings of dark green; 
the markings mostly on upper part of body and tending to 
form narrow, irregular vertical bars; dorsal and caudal fins 
with dark markings; anal nearly plain. 

Strawberry bass: Similar in form to crappie, but the body 
shorter, back more elevated, and profile of head straighter; 
depth, one-half length; head one-third length; mouth smaller 
than in crappie; snout less projecting. Six rows of scales on 
cheeks, and 40 to 45 along lateral line. Dorsal and anal fins 
higher than in crappie; dorsal spines 7 or 8, rays 15; anal 
spines 6, rays 17 or 18. Color, light silvery-green, with dark- 
green irregular mottlings over entire body ; dorsal, caudal, and 
anal fins with dark-olive reticulations surrounding pale areas; 
whole body sometimes with a delicate pink reflection (hence 
the name strawberry bass). 

Rock bass: Body oblong, compressed, back moderately 
elevated; depth 2 to 2y 2 in length; head large, 2% in length; 
eye very large, Z}/z in head. Scales) 5-39-12, in 6 to 8 rows on 
cheeks. Dorsal fin much larger than anal, with 11 spines and 
10 rays; anal, with 6 spines and 10 rays. Opercle ending in 
two flat points; gillrakers less than 10. Color olive-green, with 
brassy reflections; young irregularly barred and blotched with 
black; adult with a dark spot at base of each scale, forming 
interrupted and inconspicuous stripes; a black spot on opercle; 
anal, caudal, and soft dorsal fins with dark mottlings. 

The most reliable rule for distinguishing the largo- 
mouth from the small-mouth bass is the number of rows of 
scales on the cheeks. The colors of each species vary with 
age and the size of the mouth varies with the size of the fish, 
but the scales are constant under all conditions. With the 
crappies, the leading differential feature is the number of 
dorsal spines. 

By reason of their wide geographical range, the black 
basses have received a multiciplicity of popular names. The 
large-mouth black bass is known as Oswego bass, lake bass, 
green bass, yellow bass, moss bass, bayou bass, trout, jumper, 
chub, and welchman. In the North it is generally called black 
bass; in Virginia and North Carolina it is usually designated 



24 FISHES AND FISHING 



as the chub, and in Florida and the Southern States it is often 
called trout. The small-mouth black bass has received the 
common names of lake bass, brown bass, ninny bass, hog bass, 
black perch (used in the mountain sections of Virginia, Tenn- 
essee, and North Carolina), trout .perch, brown trout, jumper, 
mountain trout, together with other names of purely local use. 

Rock bass are variously known as red-eye, red-eye perch, 
and goggle-eye, and are sometimes confounded with the war- 
mouth (Chaenobryttus gulosus), which bears some of the same 
common names. 

The calico bass has received the names of strawberry 
bass, grass bass, bitter-head, barfish, lamplighter, goggle-eye 
perch, speckled perch, and speckled trout. The crappie is 
known in its native waters as crappie, new light, campbellite, 
sac-a-lait, bachelor, chinquapin perch, croppie, and cropet. On 
account of the similarity of the calico bass and crappie, anglers 
and fish-culturists have frequently confounded the two, the 
common and local names often being used interchangeably 
throughout the regions to which both are native. 

Possibly no common name of the black bass is more ap- 
propriate than "jumper," which is applied in certain parts of 
Kentucky. That both species of the black bass are jumpers 
is well known to every angler, but it is better understood by 
those who have had occasion to collect these fishes by seining. 
It is almost impossible to capture them with a seine rigged in 
the ordinary manner, especially when the fish have the vitality 
and activity which is usual when living in water of moderate 
temperature. Like other fishes, they lose in strength and ac- 
tivity when they inhabit warmer waters. While the black bass 
of the colder northern waters make a fight worthy of the sal- 
mon, they may be taken from the waters of the south with 
hardly a struggle. In seining for brood stock it is well to 
employ a seine about three times the depth of the water, as 
the bagging or bellying of a seine so rigged confuses the fish 
and deters them from jumping. 

A marked characteristic of the rock bass is their habit of 
settling down in dense, compact masses, resembling a swarm 
of bees, which is especially true of the young in cold weather. 
They are exceedingly pugnacious, and sometimes seem to take 
the hook rather on this account than from a desire for food. 
They are well adapted for pond-culture, and under proper 
conditions will repay the culturist in a large crop of young 
with the expenditure of very little labor and time. 

The calico bass is a fairly game fighter, and its firm, white 
flesh has a fine flavor when the fish is taken from cool, pure 



FISHES AND FISHING 



waters; but it is a very delicate fish to artificially propagate. 
It seems to resent captivity, and especially when taken from 
warm waters is exceedingly tender, quick to yield to attacks 
of fungus, and liable to become blind and die. Of large num- 
bers collected and transplanted in new waters many have died 
within a few days after being deposited. 

The spawning and breeding habits of the calico bass and 
the crappie are so near like those of the rock bass that spe- 
cial remarks on the subject do not appear necessary. 

GROWTH AND WEIGHT. 

There is a wide difference in the rate of growth, and there 
is no way by which the age of a black bass can be determined 
from its size. Some are comparatively large from the moment 
they are hatched, and grow much more rapidly than the small- 
er members of the- same school. The average size of adults 
varies in different localities, and sometimes will be found to 
vary from year to year in any particular locality. The varia- 
tions depend upon initial vitality, upon the scarcity or abun- 
dance of food, and upon the range and space given the fish. 
At the age of 5 or 6 months the young bass measure from 4 
to 8 inches, according to locality and surroundings, though a 
certain percentage of the crop will always run large. 

Large-mouth bass have been known to weigh 23 pounds. 
They are not infrequently taken from the San Marcos River, 
Texas, weighing from 12 to 15 pounds, and a 6-pound or S- 
pound bass in the southern tributaries of the Mississippi and 
in the inland lakes of Florida excites no surprise. The small- 
mouth bass does not grow so large, 2V 2 pounds probably ex- 
ceeding their average size, though they occasionally reach 5 
or 6 pounds. The rock-bass fry grow slowly, those 6 months 
old seldom averaging 2 inches in length. The adult usually 
weighs from V2 to % pound, occasionally reaching 1 pound; 
and examples have been recorded as high as three pounds. 

The crappie and the strawberry bass will, as a rule, not 
exceed 1 pound in weight, though in Minnesota the former has 
been taken as high as 3 pounds. Under like conditions of pond 
environment, at 6 months old the young of both these species 
are about the size of black-bass fry of the same age, possibly 
a little smaller. Each school will have a few individuals much 
larger than the majority. 

Black bass are considered the gamiest fish to be found on 
the American continent, though some anglers assert thai: 
their equal is to be found in the trout of the Nippegon and the 
streams of the Rocky Mountains. The large mouth black bass 



26 PISHES AND FISHING 

(Micropterus Salmonides) and the small mouth black bass 
(Micropterus Dolomieu) are the principal bass fishes found in 
the middle western waters. They are also found in all the 
states east of the Mississippi River. Both these fish are good 
fighters and offer the best of sport to the angler on both lake 
and stream. 

Bait casting and fly casting are the principal methods in 
vogue for hooking these fish. It is, at least, the method fol- 
lowed by experienced anglers. Trolling is often practiced, and 
both methods may be employed. The conditions for bass fish- 
ing govern the angler in his search for this game fish, and 
volumes might be written on this subject, which, after reading 
the amateur would have to learn by experience. The season 
of the year, the time of day, the condition of the weather, the 
direction of the wind, the contour of the lake bed and depth 
of the water, and many other things are considered by the 
successful angler. 

These things must be learned by experience. It must also 
be understood that different baits are required at different 
times and under different conditions. The most common live 
bait used in the western states is the frog, minnow or craw- 
fish. Artificial baits are often successful where live bait will 
not tempt the bass to rise. 

The bass fly is an artificial bait much used by old anglers 
and there are as many varieties of this bait as there are bugs 
and flies in the air. A good rod, reel and line are essential 
to successful angling and genuine sport. A cane pole and 
cotton line will "catch fish" but that is all it will do. There 
is something more than "catching fish" involved in the sport 
of angling. A smooth running reel and a good silk line at- 
tached to a five foot rod, an assortment of hooks — the Minne- 
sota bass hook, two or three spoon hooks, a couple of artificial 
baits and a half dozen bass-flies, ought to repay any one in a 
season for the outlay. 

NATURAL HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION. 

The large mouth and small mouth black bass are wide- 
ly distributed. The natural range of the large mouth is 
from the Great Lakes and the Red River of the North to 
Florida, Texas, and Mexico, and west' to the Dakotas, Nebras- 
ka and Kansas. The small mouth bass range from Lake 
Champlain to Manitoba, and southward on both sides of the 
Alleghanies to South Carolina and Arkansas. The adaptability 



FISHES AND FISHING 



2: 



of these fish to extremes of temperature and their great te- 
nacity of life under seemingly adverse conditions, has render- 
ed their distribution comparatively easy, and they have been 
successfully introduced into nearly all the sections of the 
United States to which they were not native, and into England, 
France, Germany, and Finland. They have been planted in 
California, Washington, Utah, and. other western states. 




28 



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CRAPPIES. (Pomoxis Annularis.) 

One of the most desirable species of the Sunfish family. 
These fish are generally caught with hook and line with angle 
worm or soft shell crab for bait, and are taken in still fishing — 
that is, with the boat at anchor. When found in large num- 
bers is not difficult to land half a hundred in a couple of 
hours. 

Another way of fishing for these fish is by fly casting, and 
this method affords considerable sport and requires some 
skill. The essential requirements are a trout line attached to a 
sixteen or eighteen foot cane pole, the line being the length 
of the pole. The common trout fly of various colors and forms 
are used for lures. The time for fly casting for crappies is 
from sundown till darkness sets in, and when the moon is 
very bright the crappies will strike the fly at any hour until 
dawn, Fly fishing for crappies during the day is unsatisfac- 
tory, though now and then one of these fish will be hooked 
in this way. 




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38 FISHES AND FISHING 

WHITE BASS, or Bar-fish. 

(Roccus chrysops.) 
This fish is a native of the Mississippi Valley and is found 
in most of the small lakes in the west, as well as in the Great 
Lakes. It is frequently mistaken for the small mouth black 
bass, though its color is a silver gray. It grows to weigli 
three pounds and is quite gamey. 

WARMOUTH BASS, or Goggle Eye. 

(Chaenobryttus gulosus.) 
This member of the Sunfish family, to which the black 
bass, rock bass and crappie belong, is found extensively in 
the western lakes and streams, and because of its similarity 
is often classed as "Sunfish" or "Crappie." 

STRAWBERRY BASS, or Calico Bass. 

(Pomoxis sparoides.) 
This fish greatly resembles the crappie. It, like the crap- 
pie, belongs to the Sunfish family, but is of a lighter color and 
not as numerous. It is generally classed by "fishermen," as 
"Sunfish," and they lei it go at that. 

SUNFISH. 

(Lepomis gibossus.) 
This is one of the most beautiful of the Sunfishes. It has 
dark blue spots on the gills and is sometimes called the Blue 
Eared Sunfish. It is common to all western waters and is as 
good a panfish as can be found. They grow to weigh three- 
quarters of a pound. 

MOONEYE. 

(Hyodon Tergisus.) 
The Mooneyes, Golden Eyes or Silver Bass are common 
in the Northwest. There are three species of these fish. They 
are fairly good fighters and anglers like to get them on their 
hooks. However, they have little food value. These fish are 
covered with large scales, have short snout, the lower jaw 
extending upward, sharp teeth. They grow to weigh about 
two pounds. 



FISHES AND FISHING 39 




THE PIKE— PICKEREL,. (Lucius Rebiculatus.) 

The pickerel is a member of the pike family which has 
achieved a distinct name and is known everywhere as the 
"pickerel." A fish is found in the "Park Region" of Minne- 
sota known as the Great Northern Pike which closely re- 
sembles the pickerel, and really there is little difference 
except in the markings of the two fish, a condition which 
is probably due to difference in food and water. 

Pickerel are not regarded as game fish, but good sport 
may be had with them if the angler will observe a little 
patience. This fish will make a spurt when first hooked and 
then strike out for deep water and sulk. Pickerel will dart 
for a bait when twenty or thirty feet distant, and will take 
anything from an angle worm to a six inch artificial minnow. 
They are partial to frogs. Bass tackle is suitable for them, 
though great skill is required when a big one is hooked, 
and one should never be hasty in trying to land such a fish 
or the results may be a broken rod. Where pickerel are 
numerous it is well to use a wire snell as these big fish 
will often swallow a good sized hook and cut the line with 
their sharp, needle like teeth. Indeed, it is recommended 
that a wire snell six to twelve inches long be used when 
angling for bass, pickerel and other similar fish. 



40 



FISHES AND FISHING 




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FISHES AND FISHING 41 

MUSCALLONGE. 

The muscallonge is the largest representative of the pike 
family. Its maximum weight is about eighty pounds and its 
average weight is twenty-five or thirty pounds. Its range 
includes the Great Lakes, Upper Mississippi Valley, Ohio 
Valley, and lakes in Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, On- 
tario, and elsewhere. It is much sought by anglers and is 
of great value as a food fish. Being provided with a very 
large mouth, armed with strong, formidable teeth, its food 
consists chiefly of living fish, which it captures by making 
sudden darts from its place of concealment among the water- 
plants at the bottom of a lake or stream. 

The eggs are similar to whitefish eggs, being semibuoyant 
and nonadhesive, and a thirty-five pound fish has yielded 
265,000 ripe eggs. Spawning takes place in May, in shallow, 
grassy places. The eggs are about 1-11 of an inch in diameter 
and number 74,000 to the quart. About 97 per cent of the 
eggs impregnated are hatched. With the water temperature 
at 55 degrees F., hatching ensues in 15 days, the yolk sac 
being absorbed in the same time. The fry are very helpless 
when first hatched. 



UNSPOTTED MUSCALLONGE. 

Caught in Wisconsin Waters. 

This is a fish native to the waters of Wisconsin and 
Michigan and is found in many lakes It grows to thirty or 
forty pounds in weight, and in habits resembles the spotted 
muscallonge, which, even in Wisconsin, are more numerous. 
It is a good table fish, but is hard to catch, being shy and 
a great fighter when hooked. 



42 FISHES AND FISHING 

MUSCALLONGE FISHING. 

Fishing for muscallonge compared to other fishing is 
about as different as shooting prairie chickens is compared 
to deer shooting. In trout fishing the angler expects to hook 
a fish frequently or he moves on down the stream for a 
better place. In fishing for muscallonge it must be done 
by trolling. A boatman is necessary and he must be a good 
one, for the boat must be kept moving at a good speed. 
The rod should be short, three to five feet, with spring 
enough to hold the fish and set the hook without breaking 
the line. The writer has some notions which differ from 
many muscallonge fishers. He uses the same rod and line 
that he uses for bass and generally uses a strong quadruple 
reel, though many use a much larger reel and a larger line, 
and they believe they must have such an outfit. 

The lure generally in use is the number nine Skinner 
spoon hook, though a larger size is favored by some. A num- 
ber seven spoon hook is just as sure to hook and hold the 
muskie. Another lure is the wooden minnow six inches long, 
sufficiently weighted to keep it three to six feet beneath 
the surface. Eighty to one hundred feet of line should be 
played out and the boatman should then locate a bunch of 
reeds, sunken logs, or "dead head" logs, and continually 
circle around these, for it is in such places that the muskies 
will be found. 

When a strike is had, hold a firm grip on the rod, 
throwing the point upwards and reeling in at every slack of 
the line. Should the muskie make a rush away from the 
boat let him have the line, keeping it taut. He will jump 
out of the water and attempt to throw the hook from his 
mouth. With a taut line this is quite impossible; but should 
he rush toward the boat, and jump before the line can be 
reeled in he will throw the hook twice out of three times, 
and it is very essential that the slack should be taken up 
at once as fast as the line can be reeled in. The fish, being 
well hooked, will soon tire and with spasmodic plunges, 
will be brought along side the boat. Here the best method 
is to shoot him through the head with a pistol. Then he 
can be lifted into the boat with gaff or net. An automatic 
gaff is very handy in landing these fish if no pistol is at 
hand. Muscallonge range from eight to sixty pounds in 
weight. 



FISHES AND FISHING 



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YELLOW PERCH. 

(Perca flavescens.) 

This is one of the most desirable food fishes found in 
Western waters, and by many is considered superior to black 
bass or the pike perch (wall-eyed pike). It grows to two 
pounds in weight, and rises well to almost any kind of bait. 

PIKE PERCH— Walleyed Pike. 

(Stizostedion vitreum.) 

The Pike Perch, commonly called "Wall Eyed Pike," is 
generally regarded as the best of food fishes found in the 
western waters. Its flesh is fine grained and of sweet flavor. 
Its bones are large and it may be served in various ways with 
equal relish. 

Ordinarily the Pike Perch are found in deep cool water 
and are 'most successfully taken in trolling early in the morn- 
ing or late in the afternoon or evening. Their average weight 
is about two and one-half pounds, though they have been 
caught weighing as high as 22 pounds. 

The best all round bait for these fish is the frog, golden 
shiner, or crawfish, though they will sometimes bite a shrimp. 
They do not respond readily to the artificial lure. They are 
not game fish. The same tackle that is used for bass is best 
for Pike Perch fishing. 

SAND PIKE— Jack Salmon. 

This is a fish common to the Mississippi river, and which 
belongs to the perch family. It is inferior to the Yellow or 
Ringed Perch or the Pike Perch (Wall Eyed Pike), for the 
table, though it is by no means to be discarded. 



46 FISHES AND FISHING 



THE SCALED OR ASIATIC CARP. 

This is the scaled carp found generally in all waters 
of the West. 

Considerable discussion is now in progress in the West 
over proposed legislation to destroy this fish, or, at least, 
restrict its propagation to certain waters, to prevent it de- 
stroying game fish and other more edible and desirable food 
fish. 

The carp is a soft fish, and will not keep long unless 
bled and- drawn and immersed in cold water until cooled. 
The fish may then be kept on ice for a week or two. If 
handled in the usual way, they are scarcely fit to eat on the 
following day unless caught in the winter and frozen. They 
are a third rate food fish, though by some they are consider- 
ed good. 

The fish and game commission of California and others 
who have studied the carp planted there claim that these 
fish destroy the celery and all other vegetation upon which 
wild ducks feed, and that 'the ducks do not now frequent the 
lakes. 

These fish subsist on roots and animal life, and destroy 
the vegetation by burrowing in the bottom and sides of 
streams and lakes, often digging holes ten to fifteen inches 
in depth. In doing this they roil the water and break up 
the spawning beds of bass, pike, perch and other and better 
fish. 

Carp were first imported into this country when a resi- 
dent of California, in 1872, brought five fish from Holstein, 
Germany, and put them into a private pond on his farm. 
In 1877 the California game and fish commission imported 
eight young carp from Japan, they being of the same variety 
as those from Germany. This was the beginning of the 
experience with carp in this country. In California, Oregon 
and parts of Washington they swarm in the irrigation ditches, 
swamps, lakes and rivers, and even in the water works 
reservoir of Sacramento, where for years four men, with 
seines, and twelve sea lions, were employed to get rid of the 
fish. This was done and black bass were substituted. 

Carp were first introduced into Germany from Asia. 
There are several varieties, all coming from the far East — 
the Asiatic, scaled carp, the leather carp (German), the tench, 
the goldfish and others. 

The only time to catch the carp is during one hour at 
sunrise and one hour at sunset. Use a very small hook, baited 



FISHES AND FISHING 47 



with a worm. The line snouiu ue uai^-cuiuied and have no 
gut leader. Attach a small cork float to the line six inches 
above the hook. Cast your hook a few feet from shore, 
and then throw small pieces of bread into the water. After 
five or ten minutes the carp will take the bread and the 
worm on your hook as well. Give the fish plenty of time 
to suck in your bait. After the float has remained under 
water one or two minutes haul in your fish. He will hardly 
struggle until you have him in the basket, but there he will 
flop around for three hours. Do not try to catch carp after 
a heavy rain, as they will not bite then. 

MIRROR— or King Carp. 

(Cyprinns carpio specnlaris.) 

The Mirror or King Carp has unusually large scales ir- 
regularly placed in short rows on its body. It is a peculiar 
looking fish and will readily be distinguished from other 
varieties — the Asiatic or scaled carp and the leather carp, 
the latter having very few scales or none at all. Reference 
to the habitat of the Asiatic Carp and the methods for catch- 
ing this fish also apply to the Mirror or King Carp. 

The Carp family is very extensive, embracing forty vari- 
eties and about two hundred and fifty species in the United 
States alone. 

THE TENCH. (Tinea tinea.) 

The Tench is a fish of the Carp family. It came from 
Europe and has been extensively planted in this country. 
It reaches the weight of ten pounds and is found in the 
Mississippi river, having come up this stream from Illinois 
rivers, where the Tench was extensively planted years ago. 
In the irrigation ditches of Montana, Idaho and Colorado, this 
and other varieties of Carp have been planted. It is con- 
sidered the most edible of all the Carp fishes. 



43 



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52 FISHES AND FISHING 



THE WHITE FISHES. 

While the common whitefish is the only member of the 
tribe that has received much attention from fish-culturists, 
it is probable that several other species of whitefish will 
in time be extensively propagated. The lake herring ( A rgy- 
rosomus artedi) has already been artificially hatched to a 
limited extent at Put-in Bay station, and the long-jaw or 
bloater (Argyrosomus prognathus), the bluefin or blackfin (A. 
nigripinnis), the tullibee (A. tullibee), and others will doubt- 
less become the subjects of fish-cultural work in certain lakes. 
The eggs of all these fish can be hatched by the same methods 
as are used with the common whitefish, but the spawning 
seasons differ. 

The lake herring is readily distinguished from the com- 
mon whitefish by its smaller size, projecting lower jaw, long 
and numerous gillrakers, absence of arch on back, etc. It 
is the most abundant of the whitefishes, being especially nu- 
merous in Lakes Erie, Michigan, and Huron, and larger quan- 
tities are taken each year than of all other species combined. 
The average length is 12 to 14 inches and the average weight 
is under a pound, although a maximum weight of 3 or 4 
pounds is attained. The fish is generally known as "herring" 
but has numerous other names, among which are cisco, blue- 
back herring, greenback herring, grayback herring, and Mich- 
igan herring. 

The spawning season of the lake herring begins somewhat 
later and terminates sooner than that of the whitefish. The eggs 
are procured and hatched in the same manner as are those 
of C. clupeformis, and require about the same time for in- 
cubation, namely, 4 to 5 months, depending on the temperature 
of the water. The eggs are smaller than those of the com- 
mon whitefish, 70,000 making a fluid quart. 

These two species are readily hybridized artificially. The 
milt of either species will impregnate the eggs of the other 
as effectively as if there were no cross fertilization. Large 
specimens of apparently hybrid fish of this character have 
been obtained in Lake Erie. The use of milt of the lake 
herring for impregnating whitefish eggs is resorted to only 
when the eggs would otherwise be lost. 

The round whitefish or menominee (Coregonus quadril- 
ateral is) is propagated by the New York Fish Commission. 
It is very widely distributed, ranging from New Brunswick 
to Alaska, and is abundant in some of the Adirondack lakes, 



FISHES AND FISHING 



53 



where its eggs are taken and hatched in comparatively large 
numbers. It rarely exceeds a pound in weight, hut its food 
qualities are good, and it is taken for market in considerable 
quantities in Lakes Huron and Michigan. 

In the New York lakes, where the fish is known as the 
frostfish, the spawning season is from the middle of Novem- 
ber to the early part of January, although the period in any 
one lake is less prolonged. The eggs are heavy, adhesive, 
and 1-8 inch in diameter; the average yield per fish is 3,500, 
but 12,000 have been taken from a 1%-pound fish. In the 
very cold water of these lakes the incubation is protracted, 
being 150 days with the water at 33 degrees F. The sac 
is absorbed in 10 to 20 clays. 




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60 FISHES AND FISHING 



THE CHANNEL CATFISH. (Ictalurus punctatus.) 

There are seventeen varieties of catfish listed by the gov- 
ernment but there are probably not more than three or four 
varieties in the west except those which find their way up the 
Mississippi or Missouri rivers. 

The channel catfish is extremely shy and is rarely caught 
in daytime, and then only in deep water, except during spring 
freshets. When the water is roily enough to be almost liquid 
mud, allowing so little light to penetrate the water that all 
minnows and most scale fishes hunt the shallow water near 
shore, the channel cats may be found foraging in the deep 
water of the swiftest and most turbulent portions of the chan- 
nel. 

Dark summer nights are the best to catch channel catfish, 
and the darker the better. Between midnight and daybreak 
of very dark nights, especially if a heavy fog has settled low 
on the water, the fisherman, slipping along quietly in his boat 
will hear the hoarse bellowing of the bullfrog, the plaintive 
cry of the whip-poor-will, and occasionally a splash as if an 
old cow had fallen into the river. The splash is made by a 
large catfish chasing minnows into very shallow water. 



FISHES AND FISHING 



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64 FISHES AND FISHING 

BULLHEAD, or Horned Pout. 

(Ameiutus nebulosus.) 

The bullhead is of the family of catfishes. Its breeding 
powers are tremendous, and it is said that a single fish will 
produce a half million young. It grows from six to twenty 
inches in length. It will take almost any kind of bait, worms 
preferred. The usual method of dressing these fish is to skin 
them. Unlike most other fish they are full blooded and when 
dressed have the appearance of raw beef. They are sweet and 
are regarded by many as superior to most fish for the table. 
They are generally found in sluggish streams. 

RED HORSE. 

(Moxostoma Macrolepedotum.) 

The Red Horse of Northern waters, mostly found in the 
rivers and creeks, belongs to the sucker family. Indeed, there 
are so many suckers which are known by other names that it 
is difficult for the angler to correctly classify them. 

The Common Red Horse grows to eighteen or twenty inch- 
es in length, The rays of the dorsal fin are thirteen or fif- 
teen. The fish is of red bronze color, and when young is 
sometimes known as the golden sucker. It may be caught in 
the same manner as suckers, with hook and line, red angle 
worms, dough or honey balls or ripe cherries being successful 
lures. The bait must be kept near the bottom .perfectly quiet. 
To make a nois^ is fatal to this class of fishing. 

BUFFALO FISH. 

(Ictiobus cyprinella.) 

The Buffalo fish is also a species of the sucker family. 
They are found in the large rivers of the west and do not at- 
tract the attention of the angler. They bite hard and fight 
hard, though not gamey. They often grow to weigh twenty 
pounds though those of three or five pounds are most often 
seen. They suck their food, though they are able, with larger 
mouths, to take much larger bait than the common sucker. 
There are several species of buffalo fish, which derives its 
name from the peculiar hump on the anterior portion of its 
back, like that of a buffalo. 



FISHES AND FISHING 



(^ 



NORTHERN SUCKER. 

Several varieties of suckers are found in the western 
lakes and streams, but generally they are not taken with hook 
and line, although this may be done. These fish are fre- 
quently speared but as there is little sale for them, except 
among the poorer classes, they are not often disturbed. The 
sucker is most desirable when it is three inches in length. 
At this size it makes splendid bait for pike and bass, and 
when six inches in length is a sure attraction for muscallonge. 
When small the suckers are almost pure white, which ac- 
counts for their attractiveness. As they grow larger they 
become darker on the back. 




The Smelt or Gudgeon. — Notropis hudsonius amarus. 

The spawn eater or smelt (Notropis hudsonius) is one 
of the chubs taken by the angler on black bass and trout 
streams. It grows to about ten inches in Lake Erie and 
other large waters and ranges from Western Minnesota east 
to New York. It is abundant in the Great Lakes, and in the 
streams of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The coloration is pale 
with, usually, a round black spot at base of caudal fin, which 
is always present in the young. There is also a broad lateral 
silvery band which in some waters becomes dusky. It is 
said to be a good table fish and is a choice lure for the black 
bass, the pike and the muscallonge, for which purpose it is 
used extensively by anglers. 



66 PISHES AND FISHING 



SHEEPHEAD. (Archosargus Probatocephalus.) 

The sheephead is similar to the carp, though it has not 
so been classified by the United States Fisheries Commission. 
The sheephead is found in the Mississippi river as far north 
as its source, in the Missouri river as far north as Omaha and 
in most southern streams. It is something of a sucker, and 
really belongs to the sucker family. It has a small mouth and 
will suck in any small bait such as dough, angle worms, ber- 
ries, or small pieces of liver or fried meat. It is a fairly good 
table fish if cooked at once. 

THE ROACH— or Golden Shiner. 

The roach, or golden shiner, is known too as the "boys'' 
fish. It is found in all streams, and is more noticeable in 
small shallow sandy bottom creeks. It is the fish we hooked 
with a pin when we first began angling. It is caught in nets 
and sold mostly for bass and pike perch bait, and is believed 
to have no equal as a lure. Its color is olive green with a 
silvery band along its sides, while the scales sparkle and 
glisten in the sunlight like tinsel, attracting fish for a long 
distance. It grows to eight or nine inches in length, but" is 
more desirable for bait when about three inches long. During 
the fall and winter months the roach makes an excellent 
pan fish when cooked in the same manner as trout. 

THE COMMON CHUB— or Fall-Fish. 

The common chub, or fall-fish, is found east of the Mis- 
souri river. It seldom grows more than a foot in length, and 
is the species most frequently met with by trout fishermen, 
and it is upon its presence or absence in a trout stream that 
anglers predicate the continued fruitfulness of such waters. 
Wherever it gets a foothold in the smaller streams, it means 
good-bye to the trout, owing to the fondness of the chub for 
the spawn and young fry or brook trout. But compensatory 
nature gives the angler consolation in that whatever stream 
the black bass lives and thrives, it means destruction to the 
chub for which the bronzebacker has an excessive hungering. 



FISHES AND FISHING 



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74 FISHES AND FISHING 

THE STURGEON. 

(Acipenser Sturis.) 

There are six species of sturgeon in the waters of the 
United States. The common and the short-nosed sturgeons 
(Acipenser sturis) and (A. brevirostris) are found only on the 
Atlantic Coast, ascending rivers to spawn. The white stur- 
geon and green sturgeon (A. transmontanus) and (A. mediro- 
stris) inhahit only the waters of the Pacific Coast. The lake 
sturgeon or rock sturgeon (A. rubicundus) exists in the Great 
Lakes, the Upper Mississippi Valley, and other northern in- 
terior waters. The shovel-nose sturgeon or white sturgeon 
(Scaphirhynchus platyrhynchus) is found in the Mississippi 
and other streams of the Southern and Western States. 

While all of the sturgeons are edible and caught for 
market, the most valuable species are the common sturgeon 
and the lake sturgeon, which alone have been artificially prop- 
agated. 

DOG FISH. 
(Amia Calva.) 

This fish is mentioned because of the necessity that ex- 
ists for its extinction and acquainting amateurs with its 
dangerous characteristics. It is a fish that one might eat 
wnen hunger threatened starvation. In many of the waters 
of the west the angler will frequently hook a dogfish when 
casting or trolling for bass, and must land and kill it to recover 
his hook. An automatic gaff is convenient for taking these 
fish from the water. The gaff will hold the fish firmly until 
the hook is removed and until the cord just back of the head 
has been severed, and danger from its sharp teeth are passed. 

These fish are great destroyers of other fish and of spawn- 
ing beds of the food and game fishes. 

AMERICAN EEL. 

(Anguilla Chryspa.) 

Eels are frequently caught in the rivers of the west. Oc- 
casionally one is taken with hook and line, but more frequent- 
ly they are brought to the surface while seining. They live 
and get their living in the mud. The United States Fish Com- 
mission reports "planting" several hundred Eels in a western 
lake, in about one foot of water. Within ten minutes say the 
commissioners every eel had bored into the mud at the bottom 
of the lake and disappeared. The eel is regarded as very de- 
structive to the spawn of other fish, and it is well that they 
are not more numerous in our lakes and streams. 



FISHES AND FISHING 



75 




FROG. 

Spring Frog or Leopard Frog (Rana virescens). 



In taking frogs for market, lines baited with red cloth, 
worms, or insects are extensively used; guns, small-bore 
rifles, and spears are also employed, and cross-bows are 
adopted for this purpose in Canada. They are often hunted 
at night, a lantern furnishing light for the hunter's aim, and 
at the same time blinding or dazing the frogs. The peculiarly 
formed tongue— loose behind, so that it may be thrown out 
to quite a distance — is covered with a viscid secretion so 
that the frog readily captures any insects or small animals 
that approach it closely. Tadpoles are commonly satisfied 
to wait patiently for their food, and even the adults do not 
often search actively for food. Sexual maturity is reached 
in about three or four years, being latest for those varieties 
that pass the first winter in the tadpole stage. It is generally 
believed that frogs live for twelve, fifteen or even twenty 
years. 

During the tadpole stage they furnish tempting morsels 
for fish, reptiles, some mammals, and other frogs, and espe- 
cially for wading birds, like herons and cranes. Their de- 
fenseless condition and the shallowness of their natural 
habitats at this period make them ready prey, and it is in 
the prevention of this, wholesale destruction that man may 
profitably intervene. In the adult frog stage the relentless 
pursuit by birds and reptiles is continued until of the hun- 
dreds of eggs deposited few become reproducing individuals. 
Only slight revenge for all this slaughter can be taken. 
They may occasionally capture disabled fish or small fish 
of sluggish habits found in the mud or on the bottom, and 



76 FISHES AND FISHING 



instances are recorded of their eating snakes, toads, and 
young birds, but insects and lower forms are their staple diet. 
The species of frogs commonly eaten are the bullfrog 
(Rana catesbiana), the green frog (Rana clamata), the spring 
frog (Rana virescens), and the western bullfrog (Rana pre- 
tiosa and Rana aurora). 



FRESH WATER ' ' CLAMS. ' ' (Unios.) 

In nearly all of the lakes and streams of the Middle West 
are to be found mussels, which are known here as fresh 
water, soft shelled clams, and though not one person in a 
thousand has ever eaten them they are an edible delicacy. 
Frequently these "clams" are found at the edge of lake or 
stream, near the shore, and in some localities they are gather- 
ed and used for fish bait, especially for crappies. 

To catch these "clams" the old method employed by 
Indians and Canadian explorers is probably the best. Take 
an old fish net or hammock or branch of a tree, weight it 
down so that it will drag on the bottom, fasten with long 
ropes to a row boat and row slowly. As soon as the net 
or brush touches the shells, which are partly open to catch 
food, they will close and fasten to the drag. In this way 
hundreds may be gathered in an hour where the "clams" 
are reasonably plentifu 7 



PISHES AND FISHING 77 



ENEMIES OF FISH. 

The common enemies of small fish are kingfishers, ducks, 
mud hens (coots), fishhawks, snakes, frogs, muskrats, owls, 
turtles, cormorants, herons, opossums, crawfish and water 
rats. All of these are destroyers of small fry, and it is for 
the purpose of killing off these fish destroyers that a gun of 
small size is recommended in the angler's outfit. 

While the above named enemies of small fish are very 
destructive in small lakes, there are no greater destroyers 
of fish life than the big fish. The dogfish, the bass, the pike 
(pickerel), the catfish are very cannibalistic and will fre- 
quently attack other fish of nearly their own size. It is 
not uncommon to find a pound fish in the gullet of a five 
pounder, though the writer has never known an instance 
where the big fish had swallowed another of the same variety. 
Bass are often found to have devoured small suckers, tench, 
sunfish and perch, but so far as observed no bass have been 
found in their stomachs. The dogfish is very destructive to 
spawning beds, and in this respect is not much different from 
the carp, which spawns on the surface of the water and 
then raids the spawning beds of the bass, pike and perch, 
and, returning devours much of its own spawn. 

The fish destroyers are numerous and it seems a Provi- 
dential arrangement to keep down the supply. 

THE LAMPREY. 

(Petromyzon marinus unicolor.) 

The greatest enemy of fish in some of the western lakes, 
especially those of shallow depth and consequently warm 
water, is the lake Lamprey, or Lamprey Eel. This fish like 
animal is not an eel and resembles the latter only in ap- 
pearance. It is more commonly known in the East as "rock 
sucker" because it is sometimes found clinging by its mouth 
to stones. A peculiarity of this fish is that it requires three 
to four years to reach maturity and reproduce its kind, when 
it dies, seldom living more than three months after maturity. 

The Lamprey may be called a blood sucker. Its mouth 
fastens to the side of a sucker, pickerel, catfish, bass or any 
other fish that it may come in contact with, and it cannot 
be shaken off until its appetite is satisfied. It is not often 
that a fish thus attacked survives, the lamprey generally 
sucking the life out of the fish before releasing its hold. 



78 



FISHES AND PISHING 




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FISHES AND FISHING 



HOW TO CATCH FISH. 

The means for catching fish are so numerous that it 
would require a volume larger than this book to describe 
them all. However, some of the most common methods are 
given as well as some of the secrets known only to life long 
fishermen, many of whom learned these secrets from the 
Indians and Southern Aborigines. 

The most common bait in use for lake and river angling 
is the frog or minnow, though the fly and other artificial 
baits are rapidly supplanting them as being more successful, 
inexpensive and cleaner to handle. The writer, who has con- 
tinued a line of experiments from the time he used a willow 
pole for a rod, a piece of twine for a line and a bent pin for 
a hook, covering a period of many years, has almost wholly 
discarded the live bait, finding much more satisfaction and 
pleasure in the use of the various artificial baits. Especially 
is this true of the bass fly. But one must have a variety of 
such bait and understand when and how to use them. After 
all, a knowledge of the habits of the fish, the waters in which 
they are found, the direction of the wind and temperature, 
are most essential. 

Bait casting affords the most sport and is more likely to 
result in good catches than either trolling or still fishing. 

Having secured a good reel, whether it cost a large sum 
or only a couple of dollars, a rod is essential. A lancewood 
rod will answer, though some anglers who can afford it will 
insist on a steel or split bamboo rod, but in any event these 
should be selected with a view to the class of fishing proposed. 

With a good reel, good rod and well balanced bait, 
whether natural or artificial the angler should, with a slight 
experience, be able to get both sport and fish. 

Fly casting is the common form of hooking brook trout, 
though many anglers still adhere to the earth worm bait 
of their boyhood days. The artificial fly will, however, prove 
more effective. In fact, it is about the only successful method 
now employed. 

Fly casting for black bass is becoming a common prac- 
tice with those who care more for the sport than they do 
for fish; but a skilled angler will not return home empty 
handed. The "Professor," and "Brown Hackle," are among 
the most attractive lures. 

The same tackle used for taking brook trout may be used 
for hooking crappies, but to take these fish the fly casting 
should be done before sunrise or after sunset. Little success 



80 PISHES AND PISHING 

will attend fly fishing for crappies during any other time of 
the day. Use the Seth Green or Moth Miller, or some similar- 
ly bright fly, and for two hours, if located right, the angler will 
he treated to a series of surprises. 

The writer has found the Moth Miller the most success- 
ful lure. Crappies are not gamey. They do not strike like 
a brook trout, nor put up such a game fight, but they are a 
fairly good substitute, and the angler who has always fished 
for them with angle worms or clams, will be surprised and 
pleased at the experiment. 

SECRETS OF CATCHING FISH. 

Trout lures consist generally of the common earth worm 
in the early spring or the white wood worm found under 
the bark of trees. During the summer when the flies are 
abroad the artificial fly may be used with great success. But 
if the angler wants to stir up the big fellows he should 
bait with a chub minnow, a golden shiner or similar small 
fish about two to three inches in length. It is the big fish 
that are looking for big bait. The big ones are lazy and 
when they see a nice fat shining minnow apparently leisurely 
swimming by, it looks like easy food; there is a dash, a 
,splash, a strain on the line and the big fellow is hooked. 
It is up to the angler to land him. 

While the author of this book discourages the use of 
artificial means of catching fish it is deemed a part of his 
mission to show how fish may be caught without either hook, 
line or spear. These methods are contrary to law. 

By the use of Fish Berries (Cocola Indicus), one may 
capture a tub full of fish in a short time. First ascertain 
where the fish are located. Then scatter pills of fish berries 
which have been prepared by mixing the' powder with flour 
and water and then drying in the air. When these pills 
are scattered over a school of fish they are eagerly swallowed. 
In about five minutes the fish will come to the surface belly 
up. Now is the time to gather them in with the landing net 
and place them in a tub of water previously provided in the 
boat. They will lie apparently dead for ten to twenty minutes 
when they will revive and be as lively as ever. These fish 
should be put in a live box and kept for a few hours before 
being cooked. Perhaps a few may die but if so it is generally 
from rough handling and not because of the fish berries, 
which though a poison simply put the fish to sleep. 

Another plan is that of jugging. In Germany and several 



FISHES AND FISHING 81 

other kingdoms of the old country poachers often follow this 
practice. 

They take a pint or quart bottle, place in it a cup full of 
unslacked lime, drop in a half cup of water, fasten down the 
cork quickly with wire and gently drop the bottle down among 
the fish. In from ten to thirty minutes the lime has become 
slacked, the gas forms and an explosion follows which stuns 
the fish and they rise to the surface, where they are gathered 
in with landing nets. This method is preferable to the fish 
berries, as there is no possible ill effects from the lime. 

Another similar method is the use of a half gallon jug 
filled with a pint of lime and a cup of water. This is used 
when the water is very deep and big fish are sought. The 
jug should be weighted with a heavy stone or it will not sink 
to the bottom. It will take about forty to sixty minutes for 
the jug to explode, but it will stun the fish within a radius of 
fifty feet. 

A few drops of oil of rhodium or oil of cummin dropped on 
the bait will attract fish and they will never refuse to bite. 
This is a very old secret but experiments show that the slow 
moving fish are the ones that most readily take this doctored 
bait, not the bass or the trout, which come at the bait with 
a rush. But there are times when bass are not biting when 
the above oils will start them going. 

HOW TO CATCH MINNOWS. 

There are several ways, but it depends on how you are 
situated. If the minnows are to be taken from a lake the net 
should be about forty feet long and wide enough to reach the 
bottom while the top is on the surface. With one person at 
each end after dropping the net, gradually draw in to shore, 
scooping up the fish in the belly of the net. 

The most successful method of catching minnows is at 
the mouth of a creek, with an umbrella shaped net. Often 
these streams are but a few feet wide and if properly netted 
and the minnows are driven up by another person wading the 
stream from the mouth of the creek hundreds may be obtained 
in a single haul. 

CARE OF FISH. 

No fish should be kept to die in the boat, but should be 
killed outright, unless they are placed in a tank for future 



82 FISHES AND FISHING 

use. A basket affords the best receptacle for fish when taken 
and should be provided wherever possible. 

When a sufficient number of fish have been taken, and 
this should be no more than is necessary to supply the family 
table, and perhaps a few for a neighbor, they should like game 
birds, be drawn and packed in grass in the fish basket. Ten 
minutes will suffice to draw the fish of a day's catch. Then 
if the angler has time, the fish should be scaled. A lightning 
fish scaler costs but 25 cents, and will repay its cost in once 
using it. 

CARE OF TACKLE. 

A good angler will take good care of his tackle. The reel 
should be oiled before starting out and should be kept free 
from dirt, and should be provided with a leather case. Some 
reels cost as much as a good watch, but few think of giving 
them as much care. 

Nothing but a good line should be used. A good line will 
outlast a dozen cheap ones. When through fishing for the 
day the line should be hung up to dry before being rewound. 

The proper way to assemble a rod is to start with the 
tap, connecting the joint to the handle, then attach the reel 
and thread the line on the rod. When the rod is taken apart 
the ferrules should be plugged with cotton or paper before 
putting away. 

Each class of hooks should be kept in a separate box, 
packed in the tackle box where it can be found without dis« 
turbing the other tackle. 



FISHES AND FISHING 



83 




84 FISHES AND FISHING 



CAMP AND FISHING HINTS. 

A good shelter tent, which can be carried in a compact 
space, may be constructed from a canvas sheet 6x12 feet in 
size, with large brass eyelets at the ends. With this canvas 
one may make a tent cover as protection from the sun, rain 
or wind, using a cross pole propped at each end in the branch- 
es of two small trees. This makes a good roof, strings passed 
through the eyelets being fastened to the ground or shrubs. 
To make a wind shelter, this canvas may be passed around 
three small trees, forming a semi-circular enclosure. It is 
unnecessary to add that outing parties will find such an ad- 
dition to their equipment a great convenience. 

There are many other conveniences for an outing trip to 
be found in all the large supply houses, and the angler must 
choose for himself or herself, according to their means and 
requirements. It would? be impossible to enumerate them all, 
many of which are good and serviceable, and many of which 
are worthless. 

In washing flannels and woolens don't wring them dry; 
hang them out without wringing and they will not shrink. 

Telescope or field glass is a great convenience. 

To test the freshness of meat insert the blade of a knife 
into the flesh; your nose can tell. 

Fish decay quickly. Trout should be drawn as soon after 
catching as convenient. Large fish should have the gills re- 
moved as soon as possible in hot weather. 

To make jerked meat from fresh killed venison or beef, 
cut the meat from the bones > then cut the meat into strips 
lengthwise with the grain, about three inches square; salt the 
strips and keep tbem under cover for five or six hours; hang 
the strips up to the limb of a tree fotf a few hours ; dry them 
partially in a smoke barrel or box for 6 hours, salt again and 
hang up for two or three days. Such meat will keep for 
twenty years if kept dry. 

To get cold water take a corked jug; to the cork attach 
a strong cord; to the handle of the jug attach a small rope; 
row out into the lake where it is very deep; tie a heavy stone 
to the jug to make it sink; drop the jug overboard, being 
careful that the line attached to the cork goes out freely. When 
the jug has reached the bottom, pull out the cork. The jug 
will fill with cold water. When full draw in with the line at- 
tached to the handle. The water will be very cold, especially 
if the lake is fed by underground springs. 

A good compass should be taken along where much tramp- 



FISHES AND FISHING 



85 



ing through the woods is anticipated, for it is very easy to 
get lost. A man naturally turns to the right in the woods, 
while a woman leans to the left. This has been demonstrated 
hundreds of times. 

A device for looking into the depths of the water may be 
constructed of haif inch pine, five inches square at each end 
and four to five feet long. The lower end is covered with 




glass and the upper end is cut to fit the face. With such a 
telescope one may see "things" at a depth of twenty to twen- 
ty-five feet on clear days. Such "telescopes" are often used 
when snaring through the ice in winter or in searching for 
"clams" or crawfish in shallow water. 

Whistle — Very often the whistle may show your presence, 
or may be used as a signal. The rule of the woods is: One 
long shrill blast — Game here, come, Two long blasts: 
Where are you? Three long blasts: Wait, I am coming. 
Three blasts at intervals: I am lost. The same signals are 
used with rifle or shot gun. 



■Sunglass, or flint lighter — Very often hunters lose their 
matches or they become wet. The sunglass or "reading glass" 
or the flint lighter then come in handy. The glass can only 
be used when the sun shines, but the flint lighter, if kept in 
a rubber or oil skin cover, may be used at all times even if 
the hunter is unfortunate enough to be "dumped" in the water. 



86 FISHES AND PISHING 

Electric Light — The pocket electric flash light will be 
found to be an important adjunct to the huntsman's kit. It 
can be used in all kinds of weather and is always ready. 

Pistol, Small Rifle or Shotgun — Any of these are valuable 
acquisitions to the angler's outfit, for the reason that one of 
ten encounters wolves, wild cats, raccoons, squirrels or tramps. 
Except the latter (which are the most dangerous) one may 
secure fine specimens by having fire arms. Never keep a load- 
ed gun in wagon, boat or tent. 

Axe and Knife — A good hunting knife or axe is essential. 
With such keen edged tools one may easily construct a tempor- 
ary camp and feel assured of safety in the wildest locality. 

Tenting Outfits — Tents may be selected to suit the hunt- 
er or angler, but no one should forget the necessity of a couple 
of pounds of wire nails as a quick means of fixing the frame. 

Camp Grounds — Select a high place, sloping to river or 
lake, dig a trench on the upper and side lines near the base 
of the tent, so that in case of rain the interior of the tent will 
not be flooded. 

Lost in the Woods — If you find you are lost, sit down. If 
you have lost your bearings try to realize your position by the 
compass. If you have "blazed your way" with the axe it will 
be very easy to retrace your steps. This is what you should 
have done. 

Blazing the Trail — When you leave the main road and 
go into the woods, with your axe clip off the bark of the trees, 
about shoulder high, at least every fifty feet. If this course 
is pursued one can never be lost. 

Take only old clothes for outing or fishing. An extra pair 
of shoes will come in handy, as well as two changes of under- 
clothing. In wading the trout streams in warm weather the 
writer generally wears a pair of canvas shoes, a pair of over- 
alls, flannel shirt and dark coat. Never wear bright colors 
while fishing trout. Brook trout can see farther than any 
other fish. Never wear white waist or hat; olive green or dull 
grey are good colors. 

To build a camp fire drive two three inch stakes in the 
ground at an angle of 90 degrees. Find four green logs, short 
ones, lay one above the other against these stakes. Dig an 



FISHES AND FISHING 87 

oblong hole at the foot of the ground log, about six inches deep, 
about 18 by 24 inches in size, then build fire, using small dry 
twigs underneath. After the fire is well started lay over all 
two dry logs. After this fire is sufficiently burned, cooking 
may be commenced, and all of the dishes prescribed in -this 
book may be cooked. 

Take care of your matches — A screw top bottle is one of 
the best means. Have such a bottle always filled and held in 
reserve for emergency. You might fall in the water destroy 
your matches and put your flint lighter out of business. The 
matches in the bottle will always be safe. 

In tenting, a convenient, bed is made by having a canvas 
sheet 3 feet wide by 7 feet long. Get two six or eight inch 
logs, 3 feet long and fasten to each end of the canvas, the 
canvas having brass eyelets. Then get two small saplings 
of sufficient length and fasten them to the two logs on each 
side of the canvas. This will make a very convenient bed. 

Every camper and outer should provide himself or herself 
with a dozen yards of mosquito net. 

When in permanent camp a good plan to keep water cool 
is to have a keg, dig a hole in the ground about the water level, 
place the keg therein and having a lid on the top of the keg, 
cover it with four or five layers of wet cloth. This will keep 
the water thirty to forty degrees colder than if kept open in 
camp. 

A great deal depends on the location of a camp. And it is 
worth a few hours' consideration in its selection. It should be 
in close proximity to good water, fuel and protection from 
storms. 

In buying waterproof boots the canvas covered gum boot 
is the best as it will stand harder usage than the all-rubber 
boots and is much lighter. 

Never take any whiskey or other stimulant in the boat. 
It is a dangerous proposition. If one must have it leave it 
in camp to be taken after your return. 



88 FISHES AND FISHING 



CAMP SUPPLIES, 

One of the most difficult problems confronting the camper 
is that of taking as small an outfit as possible and still have 
necessities for camp life. There are knock down stoves and 
full sets of camp furniture to be had at every supply house. 
The aim has been to condense the equipment into the smallest 
possible space and reduce it to the smallest weight. 

The writer is not much in favor of camp stoves unless the 
camp be made during the winter months when a stove is es- 
sential in the tent or cabin. Rather the stove is to be dis- 
couraged during the summer months. The camp fire and a 
knowledge of camp cooking without the stove will furnish 
more real enjoyment during an outing trip than if the con- 
veniences of the kitchen are transplanted to the woods. 

With the necessary pots and pans any one who will ob- 
serve the directions given in this book may serve up roasts, 
fries, broils, stews or baked dishes that will be far more pala- 
table than home or hotel cooking. 

To equip an outdoor camp for a party of four they should 
have aside from their tent equipment, the following, 

1 Axe. 

1 Camp coffee pot. 

1 Camp fry pan. 

3 Stew kettles, two of equal size and one smaller. 

2 Bake pans. 

4 Camp plates. 

4 Camp cups. ." 

4 Knives. 

4 Spoons. 

4 Forks. 

1 Salt cellar. • ., 

1 pepper dredge. 

1 Large spoon. 

1 Large fork. 

I Ladle dipper. 

I Turnover. 

I Whetstone. 

1 Can opener. 

1 Butcher knife. 

The camp ration must be chosen with great care and with 
regard to the locality in which the camp is to be pitched". No 
allowance is made for game or fish which may be procured. 
For each week of camp life for four persons the following 



FISHES AND FISHING 89 



quantities and articles are suggested, after thirty years of 
experience: 

20 Pounds of flour. 

6 Pounds of Corn meal. 

5 Pounds of Navy beans. 

6 Pounds of Salt .pork. 
10 Pounds Select bacon. 
15 Pounds Potatoes. 

7 Pounds Onions. 

3 Pounds of dried fruit. 

I Large ham. 

1 Gallon of sour pickles. 

I Quart of Syrup. 

1 Box of mustard. 

1 Sack of salt. 

3 Pounds of coffee. 

2 Pounds of Tea. 
6 Pounds Sugar. 

3 Pounds Cheese. 

1 Can baking powder. 

1 Can baking soda. 

1 Pkg. matches. 

Soap. 

Candles. 

If for a longer trip take same amount for each week. 

HOW TO COOK FISH. 

We have all heard about how to cook wild fowl and fish 
by encasing them in clay, but the clay is not always obtain- 
able; what then? Take a bass, perch or pike, dress it. After 
rinsing it well place a piece of bacon or salt pork inside, then 
wrap the fish in two or three layers of brown paper. Soak the 
whole package until wet through. Now remove the coals from 
the fire, dig a trench through the hot ashes, imbed the fish en- 
cased in the brown paper, draw the hot ashes and coals around 
it, and if necessary to maintain heat, build a small fire over the 
fish. In thirty to forty minutes the fish will be ready to 
serve. 

PLANKED FISH. 

It all depends upon the kind of fire you have, when cook- 
ing planked fish. First clean the fish. Place inside it a 



90 FISHES AND FISHING 

piece of bacon or salt pork, and a little celery or onion. Nail 
the fish to a wide board in such a way that it may be turned 
towards the fire. It is essential to have a fire of hot coals, 
and the cooking of such a fish will require forty-five to sixty 
minutes time. 

TO SMOKE FISH. 

The great northern pickerel, muscallonge, wall eyed pike, 
black bass, striped perch and white fish as well as many other 
varieties of fish, may be preserved by smoking, if simple di- 
rections are followed. 

Procure a barrel or box or small canvas enclosure. Con- 
struct three layers of cross bars, of wire, willow saplings or 
netting. Place on these frames the fish desired to be smoked, 
first having dressed them and split them down the back (it 
is best to remove the backbone), lay them flat on the frames. 
Build a smudge under them and smoke for two to four hours 
under a steady hot smoke. After this, if possible, dry the fish 
in a hot oven for fifteen or twenty minutes. If an oven is not 
available, nail the fish to a board and place them near a camp 
fire for half an hour. Salt them thoroughly and they will 
keep for several months, and will equal the best finnan haddie 
or other smoked fish. 



FISHES AND FISHING 91 



CAMP COOKING. 

To roast potatoes put them in hot ashes and cover; keep 
fire enough on top to insure steady heat. They will cook in 
forty-five minutes if ashes are properly prepared. 

To roast corn on the ear follow the same plan as for pota- 
toes, leaving the husks on; forty minutes time will be requir- 
ed; remove from ashes, pull off husks and serve. 

To roast eggs follow the same plan; five to six minutes 
will cook them nicely. 

Liver and bacon — Drop slices of liver in hot water for 
two minutes; remove and drop into frying pan where bacon 
has been previously cooked. 

To cook rabbit — Skin and dress; remove head; cut in 
small pieces at the joints and fry in butter or with bacon. If 
for stew cook same as stewed chicken. 

To cook Partridge, Quail or Prairie Chicken; dress, skin 
and fry; or dress and encase in clay and roast in hot coals 
and ashes, either with feathers on or removed. 

Baked Beans — The night previous soak beans, one cup 
for two persons, using plenty of water and a large dish. In 
morning drain and place in kettle and boil until skins will 
separate when blown upon. Place in closed jar, with piece 
of fat bacon or salt pork; add tablespoon sugar; cover jar 
with tight cover, place jar in hot ashes and cover with hot 
coals or fire; cook for two hours. Leave an inch or two of 
space on top of beans for expansion and gas. If placed in 
campfire and left over night will be ready for breakfast. 

Tea is the best for a camp or long trip through woods. 
A small quantity will go a long ways; it is easily prepared. 
Use a pinch of tea for each person; steep a few minutes until 
right color is obtained. Tea is used by all old time hunters 
and cruisers. 

Pancakes — Mix night before. Flour and water (milk if 
available), in morning add pinch of salt, little sugar and flour 
enough to make a soft batter. Add teaspoon soda to each 
quart batter; fry in bacon drippings. 

Soups and stews are frowned down by campers, because 
of the necessary dishes. 



92 FISHES AND FISHING 



EMERGENCY MEDICINES. 

Keep the mouth shut, the head cool, the bowels open and 
the feet dry, and there will be little use for your medicine 
case. Still there will be times when the emergency case will 
be found necessary. Constipation and diarrhoea, cramps, chills 
and wounds are the most common affections to contend with 
on an outing trip. 

For constipation use cathartics, any kind; for diarrhea 
use sun cholera cure or apply warm bandages to stomach. 
Browned flour, vinegar and salt is good for a drink. Hot gin- 
ger tea is good. 

For cuts or wounds, bandage thoroughly. If an artery 
has been cut tie bandage above the wound and use a stick to 
tighten the bandage, then go for a surgeon, if it is a dangerous 
case. 

Baking soda is a great relief for ivy poisoning. 

For toothache use Wizard Oil, or warm solution of 
vinegar and salt. Peroxide of Hydrogen is also very good in 
allaying tooth troubles. 

For earache, put a small portion of finecut tobacco in a 
tablespoon with water; steep over fire, drop few drops in ear; 
pain will cease at once. 

For fever and ague take frequently 2 grain capsules of 
quinine. 

It is a good plan to have a dozen mustard plasters. They 
can be had at any drug store. 

The hypodermic syringe is also worth consideration in 
cases of fatigue, drowning, over exertion. Learn how to use 
it. 

For poisoning warm water and mustard is good. 

If struck by lightning place patient on ground, throw water 
in face and remove clothes; let patient lie close to ground. 



PISHES AND PISHING 



93 



PROPER FISHING BOAT. 




Proper boat for fishing. It is a fiat bottom boat twelve 
to eighteen inches in depth, eighteen feet long and four feet 
six inches in width, with fixed seats at each end. There will 
be less liability of danger and more comfort from using such 
a boat than any other. Fishermen do not require speed and 
a single pair of oars in such a boat will propel two or four 
persons at sufficient speed. 



94 FISHES AND FISHING 



CHOICE OF FLIES. 

Fly fishing is in its infancy in America generally, and 
especially in this part of that happy land. In the European 
countries flies are classified for use according to the country 
and according to season. Thus there are sand flies suitable for 
Norway, for Ireland, the Dee, the Tweed, the Usk. So there 
are trout flies for the Severn, Wye, Dugg, Teme, Mormow, 
etc.; for the Yorkshire, Cumberland and Westmoreland 
rivers and streams and for the various lakes. Fishermen 
in this part of the world do not distinguish between 
streams. Substantially the same flies are used through the 
Rocky mountains, Wisconsin and Minnesota and in New Eng- 
land. In Canada the subject has advanced a step further in 
evolution. On the Nepigon, for example, it is an established 
tradition that you use number one salmon flies, especially Jock 
Scott, Silver Doctor, "Rams Bottom's President," Durham 
Ranger, Dusty Miller, etc. For the Maine salmon fishing large 
flies are used; in Northeast Canada the flies run very small. 

In countries where the art has reached a further state of 
development, flies are arranged according to the months. A 
standard English book describes as the best flies for April, Iron 
Blue Dun, Olive Quills, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, Goose Dun, 
March Brown and Hammond Adopted, Rough Olive, White 
Church and the Grannum. The best flies for May, Red Palm- 
ers, Olive Duns, Cow Dun Alder, a Black Gnat, Yellow Dun, 
Ginger Quil, Pink Wickham. One celebrated entomological ar- 
rangement, according to season, is "Rolands." The flies there- 
in described for April and May, like those just enumerated, 
are rather neutral cinnamon colors for April and more yellow 
and blue colors for May. 



FISHES AND FISHING 



95 



MINNOWS FOR BAIT. 

The use of minnow bait for catching wall-eyed pike, pick- 
erel, perch, and sometimes bass, is frequently employed in this 
section. Anglers differ as to the proper method of hooking 
this bait. If it is true that big fish swallow the minnow head 
first, it would seem that the first cut here shown would be the 
proper method for attaching the hook. 




But if the big fish swallow the minnows tail first, then the 
method shown in the following cut would seem to be appro- 
priate. 




The big fish take the frog through a rear attack. They 
also take the minnow in the same manner, but whether they 
do so at all times is a question. They evidently do take smali 
fish head first when not attached to a hook, but when used 
as bait it has been proven that they will swallow the minnow 
in most any way. 



96 FISHES AND FISHING 



OPEN SEASON FOR FISHING. 

The laws of the western states have recently been chang- 
ed, the principal changes being in the dates for taking certain 
fish. The following extracts from the game laws cover every 
point likely to arise, or about which there may be any dispute. 
There will be no other changes before spring of 1909, if then. 

Minnesota. 

Brook trout — any variety — April 15th to Sept. 1st. 

Black Bass, Gray Bass or Oswego Bass, May 29th to 
March 1st, following. 

Pike, Perch, Muscallonge, Sunfish, Lake Trout, Catfish or 
any other variety of fish — May 1st to March 1st, following. 

Pickerel, Suckers, Bullheads, Redhorse and Carp may be 
taken at any time with either hook and line or spear. There 
is no limit to the number of these fish that may be taken. 
Artificial light may be used except during May and June. 

It is unlawful to have in possession for sale or to sell any 
brook! trout or black bass at any time. All other fish" may 
be sold provided they are caught in the manner prescribed 
by law, with hook and line, except in certain cases, where 
seines are permitted and are licensed by the game and fish 
commission. 

The number of fish that may be taken in one day is limit- 
ed to twenty-five, except pickerel, suckers, redhorse, carp and 
bullheads. Crappies and sunfish are restricted to 25. 

Nonresidents temporarily in Minnesota may ship outside 
the state any fish caught here provided the shipper accom- 
panies the fish and the package or box is properly and plainly 
marked, giving name of shipper, the consignee and the con- 
tents of the package. Fifty pounds is the limit that may thus 
be taken. 

One hook and one line is all the law permits, but the com- 
mission has ruled that the "gang" hook, tandem hook or artifi- 
cial bait constitutes one hook. 

Wisconsin. 

Brook Trout — any variety — May 1st to August 15th. Ten 
pounds is the limit for a day's catch. 

Black Bass, Yellow Bass or Oswego Bass, Green Bass, 
Rock Bass, Silver Bass, White Bass, Pike, Catfish, Muscal- 
longe and Sturgeon — May 25th to March 1st, following. Under 
the law these are designated as the game fish of Wisconsin. 



FISHES AND FISHING 97 



Rough. Fish — In Wisconsin Buffalo fish, Carp, Dogfish, 
Garfish, Eelpout, Red Horse, Sheepshead and Suckers are legal- 
ly known as Rough Fish. A license is required to take the 
rough fish with nets or seines as in Minnesota, though the fee 
is five dollars, whereas in Minnesota it does not exceed one 
dollar. 

The sale of Brook Trout is prohibited and they cannot be 
shipped either within or without the state, unless accompanied 
by the shipper. 

North Dakota. 

Pike, pickerel, perch, crappies, trout, buffalo, bass and 
muscallcnge between May 1st and January 1st, except in 
streams and lakes where fish has been planted, there from 
May 1st to October 1st. Hook and line only can be used. 

South Dakota. 

(Same as North Dakota.) 

Upper Michigan. 

Speckled trout, grayling, California trout and landlocked 
salmon, from May 1st to September 1st, with hook and line 
only. Less than six inches long protected. Black bass may be 
taken with hook and line only, from May 20th to April 1st 
following thereafter, must not be sold during closed season. 



98 FISHES AND FISHING 



OPEN SEASON FOR GAME. 

Minnesota. 

Turtle dove, snipe, prairie chicken or pinnated, white- 
breasted or sharp-tailed grouse, woodcock, upland plover and 
golden plover, September 1st to Nov. 1st. 

Quail, partridge, ruffed grouse or pheasant, other than 
Mongolian, Chinese, ring neck or English pheasant, October 
15th to December 15th. 

Wild duck, wild goose, brant, or any variety of aquatic 
fowl, September 1st to December 1st: 

Unlawful to shoot or kill more that twenty-five game biras 
per day. 

Deer, November 10th to November 30th. 

Male moose, November 10th to November 30th. 

To hunt big game, such as deer and moose, license re- 
quired; non-resident's fee, $25.00; for small game $10.00, issued 
by county auditor; resident's fee, $1.00 

Elk protected at all times. 

Wisconsin. 

Woodcock, partridge^ pheasant or grouse of any variety, 
plover or snipe, September 1st to December 1st. 

Prairie chicken, September 1st to October 15th, in follow- 
ing counties: Adams, Barron, Burnett, Bayfield, Buffalo, 
Clark, Crawford, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, 
Marquette, Monroe, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Richland, Sawyer, 
Vernon, Washburn, Wanshara, Wood. 

May take in one day or have in possession : 

Fifteen prairie chickens, grouse or woodcock. 

Twenty-five partridge or pheasant. 

Thirty wild geese, wild ducks, plover or snipe. 

Non-residents with license may take fifty game birds from 
state when he accompanies them, not |aqr.e than above num- 
ber of any variety. 

Wild duck, brant or other aquatic fowl, excepting wild 
geese, September 1st to January 1st. 

Wild geese, September 1st to May 1st. 

Deer, November 10th to November 30th, except in Adams, 
Richland and Marquette counties, where open season is Novem- 
ber 20th to December 1st. 

Closed all year in Calumet, Columbia, Fond du Lac, Man- 



FISHES AND FISHING 99 



itowoc, Sauk, Sheboygan, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempeleau and 
Vernon. 

Unlawful to hunt without a license. Fee to non-residents 
is $25.00 for hunting all game (not protected), including deer; 
$10.00 for hunting game other than deer. Fee to residents, 
$1.00. For rabbit or squirrel, September 1st to March 1st. 

Michigan (Upper Peninsula). 

Ducks, geese and all wild water fowl, September 1st to 
January 1st. Jack snipe, bluebill, canvas-back, pin-tail whist- 
ler, spoon-bill, butter-ball and saw bill ducks, March 2nd to 
April 10th. No device permissible. 

Prairie chicken, wild turkey and wild pigeon, protected un- 
til 1910. 

Partridge, quail, spruce hen and woodcock, October 15th 
to November 30th. 

Deer, November 10th to 30th, inclusive. No person is per- 
mitted to kill more than two in one year. 

Moose, elk and caribou are protected until 1913. 

For black and gray squirrels, October 15th to November 
30th. 

License required to hunt deer. Fee to non-residents, 
$25.00; residents $1.50. 

North Dakota. 

Prairie chicken, pinnated, sharp-tailed and ruffled grouse 
or woodcock September 1st to October 15th. 

Wild duck, wild goose, crane or brant, Sept. 1st to May 1st. 

Deer, from November 10th to December 1st; hounds or 
dogs, also spring guns, prohibited in hunting same. 

Permit required for hunting within state, issued by county 
auditor and endorsed by game warden. Fee for non-residents, 
$25.00; for residents, 75 cents. 



L,<#C. 



100 FISHES AND FISHING 

LIST OF SPECIES OF FISHES KNOWN IN THE 
GREAT LAKES OR THEIR CONNECT- 
ING WATERS. 

From Report of U. S. Fish Commission. 

In the following list are given the fishes known to live 
in the Great Lakes or their connecting waters. This includes 
not only the streams and smaller lakes directly tributary to 
the Great Lakes but also the upper St. Lawrence River and the 
waters tributary to it. The species not known to occur else- 
where than in the hydrographic basin of the Great Lakes are 
indicated by a star. 

1. Petromyzon marinus unicolor (De Kay). Lamprey eei. 

2. *Ichthyomyzon concolor (Kirtland). Silver lamprey. 

3. Lampetra wilderi (Gage). Brook lamprey. 

4. Polyodon spathula (Walbaum). Paddle-fish. Only one 

specimen recorded from Great Lake Basin; that from 
Lake Erie. 

5. Acipenser rubicundus Le S. Lake sturgeon. 

6. Lepisosteus osseus (L.). Long-nosed gar. 

7. Lepisosteus platostomus Rafinesque. iShort-nosed gar. 

8. Amia calva Linnaeus. Dog-fish or bowfin. 

9. Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). Channel cat-fish. 

10. Ameiurus lacustris (Walbaum). Great Lakes cat-fish. 

11. Ameiurus natalis (Le Sueur). Yellow cat-fish. 

12. Ameiurus vulgaris (Thompson). Bullhead. 

13. Ameiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur). Common bullhead. 

14. Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque). Small black bullhead. 

15. Noturus flavus Rafinesque. Stone cat. 

16. Schilbeodes gyrinus (Mitchill). 

17. Schilbeodes exilis (Nelson). 

18. Schilbeodes miurus (Jordan). 

19. *Carpiodes thompsoni Agassiz. Lake carp sucker. ♦ 

20. Catostomus catostomus (Forster). Long-nosed sucker. 

21. Catostomus commersonii (Lacepede). Common sucker. 

22. Catostomus nigricans Le S. Black sucker. 

23. Erimyzon sucetta oblongus (Mitchill). Chub sucker. 

24. Minytrema melanops (Raf.). Striped sucker. 

2.5. Moxostoma anisurum (Rafinesque). White-nosed sucker. 

26. Moxostoma aureolum (Le Sueur). Common redhorse. 

27. Moxostoma breviceps (Cope). Short-headed redhorse. 

28. Campostoma anomalum (Raf.). Stone-roller. 

29. Chrosomus erythrogaster Rafinesque. Red-bellied dace. 



FISHES AND FISHING 101 

30. Pimephales promelas Raf. Fat-head minnow. 

31. Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque). Blunt-nosed minnow. 

32. Semotilus corporalis (Mitchill). Fall-fish. 

33. Semotilus atromaculatus (Mitchill). Creek chub. 

34. Leuciscus elongatus (Kirtland). Red-sided minnow. 

35. Leuciscus neogaeus (Cope). 

36. Leuciscus margarita (Cope). 

37. Opsopoeodus emiliae Hay. 

38. Opsopoeodus megalops (Forbes). 

39. Abramis crysoleucas (Mitchill). Roach. 

40. Hybognathus nuchale Agassiz. 

41. Cliola vigilax (Baird & Girard). 

42. Notropis anogenus Forbes. 

43. Notropis cayuga Meek. Cayuga minnow. 

44. Notropis heterodon (Cope). 

45. * Notropis fretensis (Cope). 

46. Notropis blennius (Girard). Straw-colored minnow. 

47. *Notropis volucellus (Cope). 

48. Notropis hudsonius (De Witt Clinton). Shiner. 

49. *Notropis hudsonius selene (Jordan). Lake Superior 

shiner. 

50. Notropis whipplii (Girard). Satin-fin minnow. 

51. Notropis cornutus (Mitchill). Red-fin. 

52. *Notropis cornutus frontalis (Agassiz). 

53. *Notropis cornutus cyaneus (Cope). 

54. Notropis atherinoides Rafinesque. 

55. Notropis arge (Cope). 

56. Notropis rubrifrons (Cope). 

57. Notropis umbratilis (Girard). 

58. Notropis umbratilis cyanocephalus (Copeland.) 

59. Ericymba buccata (Cope). 

60. Rhinichthys cataractae (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Long- 

nosed dace. 

61. Rhinichthys atronasus (Mitchill). Black-nosed dace. 

62. Rhinichthys atronasus lunatus (Cope). 

63. Hybopsis dissimilis (Kirtland). 

64. Hybopsis storerianus (Kirtland). 

65. Hybopsis kentuckiensis (Raf.). River chub. 

66. Couesius plumbeus (Agassiz). 

67. Couesius dissimilis (Girard). 

68. Exoglossum maxillingua (Le Sueur).' Cutlip minnow. 

69. Anguilla chrysypa Rafinesque. Common eel. 

70. Hiodon alosoides (Rafinesque). Mooneye. 

71. Hiodon tregisus Le Sueur. Toothed herring. 



102 FISHES AND FISHING 

72. Dorosoma cepedianum (Le Sueur). Hickory shad. 

Probably introduced through canals from Mississippi 
basin, and possibly go through the Erie Canal. 

73. Pomolobus chrysochloris Rafinesque. Probably not na- 

tive, but introduced from the Mississippi basin by 
means, of canals. 

74. Pomolobus pseudoharengus (Wilson). 

75. Coregonus quadrilateralis Richardson. Round white-fish. 

76. Coregonus clupeiformis (Mitchill). Common white-fish. 

77. Coregonus labradoricus Richardson. Labrador white- 

fish. 

78. *Argyrosomus osmeriformis (H. M. Smith). Smelt of 

New York lakes. 

79. Argyrosomus artedi (Le Sueur). Lake herring. 

80. Argyrosomus artedi sisco Jordan. Cisco of Lake Tippe- 

canoe. Only in certain small lakes in Wisconsin con- 
nected with Lake Michigan and certain small lakes in 
northern Indiana in the Wabash basin.. 

81. *Argyrosomus hoyi Gill. Hoy's white-fish. 

82. * Argyrosomus prognathus (H. M. Smith). Long-jaw 

white-fish. 

83. *Argyrosomus nigripinnis Gill. Blackfin white-fish. 

84. * Argyrosomus tullibee (Richardson). Tullibee white- 

fish. 

85. *Argyrosomus tullibee bisselli Bollman. 

86. Cristivomer namaycush (Walbaum). Lake trout. 

87. *Cristivomer namaycush siscowet (Agassiz). Siscowet. 

88. Salmo salar Linnaeus. Atlantic salmon. 

89. Salmo salar ouananiche McCarthy. Ouananiche. 

90. Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill). Brook trout. 

91. *Thymallus tricolor Cope. Michigan grayling. 

92. Umbra limi (Kirtland). Mud minnow. 

93. Lucius vermiculatus (Le Sueur). Grass pike. 

94. Lucius reticulatus (Le Sueur). Pickerel. 

95. Lucius lucius (Linnaeus). Great pike. 

96. Lucius masquinongy (Mitchill). Muskallunge. 

97. Fundulus diaphanus (Le Sueur). Grayback minnow. 

98. Fundulus diaphanus menona (Jordan & Copeland). 

99. Fundulus dispar (Agassiz). 

100. Fundulus notatus (Raf.). Top minnow. 

101. Eucalia inconstans (Kirtland). Brook stickleback. 

102. *Eucalia inconstans cayuga Jordan. 

103. *Eucalia inconstans pygmaea (Agassiz). 

104. Pygosteus pungitius (Linnaeus). Nine-spine stickleback. 



FISHES AND FISHING 103 

105. Gasterosteus bispinosus (Walbaum). Common stickle- 

back. 

106. Percopsis guttatus Agassiz. Trout percb. 

107. Aphredoderus sayanus (Gilliams). Pirate perch. 

108. Labidesthes sicculus (Cope). Skipjack. 

109. Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque. Crappie. 

110. Pomoxis sparoides (Lacepede). Calico bass. 

111. Ambloplites rupestris (Raf.). Rock bass. 

112. Chaenobryttus gulosus (Cuv. & Val.). Warmouth. 

113. Apomotis cyanellus (Rafinesque). Blue-spotted sun-fish. 

114. Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesque). Long-eared sun-fish. 

115. Lepomis pallidus (Mitchill). Bluegill. 

116. Eupomotis euryorus (McKay). Red-eared sun-fish. 

117. Eupomotis gibbosus (L.) Pumpkin-seed. 

118. Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). Large-mouthed 

black bass. 

119. Micropterus dolomieu Lacepede. Small-mouthed black 

bass. 

120. Stizostedion vitreum (Mitchill). Wall-eyed pike. 

121. Stizostedion canadense (Smith). Sauger. 

122. Stizostedion canadense griseum (De Kay). 

123. Perca flavescens (Mitchill). Yellow perch. 

124. Percina caprodes (Rafinesque). Log perch. 

125. Percina caprodes zebra (Agassiz). 

126. Hadropterus aspro (Cope & Jordan). Black-sided darter. 

127. Cottogaster copelandi (Jordan). Copeland's darter. 

128. *Cottogaster cheneyi Evermann & Kendall.- Cheney's 

darter. 

129 Cottogaster shumardi (Girard). Darter. 

130. Diplesion blennioides (Rafinesque). Green-sided darter. 

131. Boleosoma nigrum (Rafinesque). Johhny darter. 

132. Boleosoma nigrum olmstedi (Storer). Darter. 

133. Ammocrypta pellucida (Baird). Sand darter. 

134. *Etheostoma boreale (Jordan). Northern darter. 

135. Etheostoma coeruleum Storer. Rainbow darter. 

136. Etheostoma flabellare Raf. Fan-tailed darter. 

137. Etheostoma flabellare lineolatum (Agassiz). 

138. Boleichthys fusiformis (Girard). 

139. Microperca punctulata Putnam. Least darter. 

140. Roccus chrysops (Raf.). White lake bass. 

141. Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque. Fresh-water drum. 

142. Cottns ictalops (Rafinesque). Blob. 

143. *Cottus ricei Nelson. Rice's blob. 

144. Cottus pollicaris (Jordan & Gilbert). 



104 FISHES AND FISHING 

145. *Cotttis spilotus (Cope). 

146. *Uranidea franklini (Agassiz). 

147. *Uranidea kumlienii Hoy. 

148. Uranidea gracilis (Heckel). 

149. *Uranidea formosa (Girard). 

150. *Uranidea hoyi Putnam. 

151. *Triglopsis thompsoni Girard. Fresh-water sculpin. 

152. Lota maculosa (Le Sueur). Ling. 



FISHES AND PISHING 105 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Page. 

Preface 3 

Fishes Known by Many Names 4 

Whipping Trout Streams 5 

Trout — How to Angle for 6 

Flies and Tackle 6 

Spotting 6 

Reels and Rods 6 

Fly Casting , 7 

Tandem Flies 7 

Landing Net and Creel 7 

Trout — Brook— Description of 9-20 

Variety of Color 9 

Anatomy of 9 

Grayling — Description of 10 

Rainbow — Description of 12 

Von Behr — Description of 20 

Loch Leven — Description of 20 

Rocky Mountain — Description of 20 

Yellowstone — Description of 20 

Steelhead — Description of 20 

Bass — Anatomy of 21 

Large Mouth 22 

Small Mouth 22 

Crappie — Description of 22 

Crappie — Fly Casting for 35 

Strawberry — Description of 23, 38 



106 FISHES AND FISHING 

Rock — Description of 23 

White— Description of 38 

Warmouth — Description of 38 

Common Names of 24 

Growth and Weight 25 

Fly Casting for 26 

Natural Habitat 26 

Sunfishes — Description of 38 

Pickerel — Description of 39 

Muscallonge — Description of 41 

Unspotted — Description of 41 

Fishing for 42 

Tackle Required 43 

Perch — Yellow or Ringed 45 

Pike Perch (Wall Eyed Pike) 45 

Sand Pike, or Jack Salmon 45 

Carp — Scaled or Asiatic 4G 

History of 46 

Mirror or King 47 

Leather 47 

Tench 47 

Drum (Fresh Water) 51 

Whitefishes 52 

Mooneye — Description of S8 

Lake Herring — Description of 52 

Tullibee 52 

Catfishes — Channel — Description of 60 

How to Catch Them 60 

Bullhead or Horned Pout 64 

Redhorse 64 

Buffalo Fish 64 

Suckers 65 



PISHES AND FISHING 107 

Smelt or Gudgeon 65 

Sheephead G6 

Roach or Golden Shiner 66 

Chub or Fall Fish , 66 

Gar — Short Nosed 70 

Sturgeon — Short Nosed 71-74 

Dog Fish 74 

Eel — American 74 

Frog , 75 

Clam — Fresh Water 76 

Enemies of Fish , 77 

Lamprey 77 

Fish— How to Catch . . 79 

Bait for Different Fish 79 

Bait and Fly Casting 79 

Tackle for Various Fish 79 

Flies Best Adapted 79 

Fish — Secrets of Catching 80 

Minnows — How to Catch 81 

Fish — Care of 81 

Tackle— Care of 82 

Camp Hints S4 

To Wash Flannels 84 

Testing Freshness of Meat 84 

To Prepare Fish , 84 

Jerked Meat 84 

To Keep Water Cool S4 

Use of Compass 84 

Water Telescope , 85 

Sun Glass or Flint Lighter 85 

Electric Lighter 85 

Pistol or Rifle 86 



108 FISHES AND FISHING 

Axe and Knife 86 

Tenting Outfits 86 

Camp Location 80 

Lost in the Woods 86 

Blazing the Trail SQ 

Camp Fire — Building of 86 

Camp Supplies for Cooking 88 

Camp Rations 89 

How to Cook Fish 89 

Planked Fish 89 

Smoked Fish 90 

Camp Cooking Recipes 91 

Medicines for Emergency 92 

Boat for Fishing 93 

Flies— Kind to Use 94 

Minnows — How to Hook 95 

Fish Laws— Western States 96-97 . 

Game Laws — Western States 98-99 

Fishes of the West— Species of 100-104 



PISHES AND PISHING 109 



INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page. 

Brook Trout — Speckled 8 

Grayling Trout 10 

Rainbow Trout 11 

Von Behr Trout — German Brown 14 

Loch Leven Trout 15 

Rocky Mountain Trout 16 

Yellowstone Trout 17 

Lake Trout IS 

Steelhead Trout 19 

Bass — Anatomy of 21 

Bass— Small Mouth 28 

Bass — Large Mouth , 29 

Bass— Rock 30 

Bass— White 31 

Bass — Warmouth 32 

Bass — Strawberry , 33 

Crappies 31 

Sunfish (Blue Eared) 36 

Mooneye — Toothed Herring 37 

Pickerel (English Pike) 39 

Muscallonge 40 

Muscallonge — Unspotted 41 

Perch— Yellow 43 

Perch (Pike)— Wall Eyed Pike 44 

Carp — Scaled or Asiatic 48 

Carp — Mirror or King 49 



110 FISHES AND FISHING. 

Carp — Leather 50 

Drum Fish— Fresh Water 51 

White Fishes — Lake Herring 54 

Whitefish — Mountain 55 

Whitefish — Rocky Mountain 5G 

Whitefish — Williamson's 57 

Tullibee 58 

Catfish— Channel '. 59 

Bullhead 61 

Red Horse 62 

Buffalo Fish , 03 

Smelt, or Gudgeon ' 65 

Roach, or Shiner 67 

Chub, or Fall Fish 68 

Sheephead 69 

Gar— Short Nosed 70 

Sturgeon — Short Nosed 71 

Dog Fish 72 

Eel — American 73 

Frog 75 

Lamprey 78 

Camping 83 

Telescope — Water 85 

Boat — Proper for Fishing 93 

Minnows for Bait 95 











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